Having grown up in Afghanistan seeing
all the destruction and chaos, cultivated a keen desire in me to create rather
than to destroy, thus started my sojourn of design. I studied architecture at
the Manipal Institute of Technology. On completing my degree in Architecture I
joined a prominent architectural firm, Benjamin and Benjamin, in New Delhi.
However, I allowed myself to grab any
chance that would give me an opportunity to draw, paint, or just create. I got
work illustrating books with the World Health Organization, the Voluntary
Health Association of India, and the National AIDS Control Organization, to
name a few. The subject was very interesting and it gave me an insight into yet
another aspect of life. My unconventional approach led me in yet another
direction when I decided to study Fashion Design at the National Institute of
Fashion Technology in New Delhi, a premier design school and the only one of
its kind at the time.
The way I saw it there was no real
departure from my training as an architect. Both Architecture and Fashion deal
with the design of a protective space -- Clothing is the immediate space around
us, and Architecture is the bigger space. Paintings and sculpture create focal
points in the larger interior, or architectural space, just as jewelry and
accessories create areas of focus in Fashion. The fundamentals of designing a
painting a sculpture, a building, or furniture deal with an understanding of function,
form, structural and material properties. Over the years I was able to connect
the dots and delve into all areas of design.
Traveling and interacting with people
from across the globe instilled in me a desire to share my worldview with a
message that I believe would have a positive impact on people. As an artist, I
feel I could spread a message for the betterment of society. Having extensively
traveled in Europe and Asia, studying architecture and fashion design I was
able to incorporate various cultural aspects into my world of art and design.
My experience teaching at NIFT Delhi
and Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore has made me a perpetual student of
Art, Architecture, Jewelry and Design for it is my belief that learning never
stops. Having traveled the world with significant time especially in Europe and
the Asia Pacific has enabled me to incorporate cross-cultural elements,
philosophies and interactions in my designs, be it in painting, jewelry or art.
I believe I was born to study the history
of art techniques and explore the unexplored reaches of fine art - not
restricting myself to painting - but in
the design of jewelry, furniture, sculpture, shoes, building, clothes, etc. and
create a new world.
Over the last few decades of my journey,
I have created a plethora of work in various mediums such as Pen and Ink,
Pencil Color, Charcoal, Acrylic, and Watercolors. My paintings and jewelry have
been in circulation with private clients for the past few decades. I currently
have design studios in both Singapore and India.
This is Week 2 of 52 Artists in 52 Weeks. Thank you for reading and sharing Lakshmi's story today. To connect with Lakshmi and see more of her work, please visit the following links:
Video: https://vimeo.com/172568345
Email: Lakshmi@lakshmimohanbabu.com
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