For so many artists across generations, India has served as a refuge; a stopping point for people in search of inspiration and enlightenment. For most of us who call it home, it’s quite the opposite. We feel the daily grind, the oppressive heat, the mysterious odours and the veneer of beauty is stripped away. Sometimes it takes an outsider’s perspective to really understand the charm of the country we’ve come to take for granted.
If you need a way to recapture the magic, look no further than the sketch books of British artist Maximillion Malone, where he’s captured his travels through India in all its glory and colour.
Homegrown caught up with him to find out more about his stunning creations.
Homegrown: What do you look to for inspiration during your travels?
Maximillion Malone: In India it starts in the cities, the act of getting lost and rambling in a new place, is where my creative journey begins. Inspiration can come from what I find and what I choose to pick up and collect. Whilst exploring new cities on foot, I’ll be scanning the ground for interesting bits of packaging, printed paper and rubbish. On a previous trip to India I became obsessed with picking up empty matchbox designs. For locals I’m often looked at with a bizarre curiosity, I’m always happy to share and show my collage books to people when asked. It’s often been a great conversation starter, or even a way to communicate when language is difficult. They see waste accumulate everyday, but to me, it can be the starting point for creativity.
Another important inspiration to me is colour, the vibrancy in India has permanently changed my outlook of the world. Colour here is beyond incredible, it’s as if all my life previously was only seeing colour at 80% of how I see the world now.
HG: What is it about India that intrigues you?
MM: India’s drawn me back year after year, as I seek to be re-energised and re-inspired for my creative pursuits. Without fail, every new trip, something different inspires me, from the Keralan backwaters to Ladakh’s moon-like landscapes. Correct me if I’m wrong but Indias the largest democracy in the world, with so many languages, cultures and faiths to have incorporated into a united entity, that’s beyond inspiring.
Initially before anything else though it was the people here who inspired my passion, within the bustling bazaars, the manic road junctions I observed life like I’d never seen it before. Later after several trips here I started to form a slightly deeper understanding and appreciation for Indias diversity of languages, religions, cultures and lifestyles. For me now India is not one country but hundreds, geographically and spiritually, this is why new inspiration is never too far away.
HG: How do you feel the medium of collage best expresses these ideas?
MM: The medium is flexible, its up to interpretation and there’s no wrong answers. Collage has always been my way of recording my experiences, a visual diary but without a linear narrative. With collage I can start an idea but I don’t feel compelled to finish it immediately, I can revisit ideas, re-work them and add layer after layer whenever the feeling takes me. India has so much variety and visual stimulus, collage helps me to capture that feeling into imagery.
When travelling I can be bouncing around on a public bus, or taking a 12 hour train journey, and on my lap I’ll have a few paper cuttings and a glue stick in hand, its a medium that works even when your studio is on your lap.
HG: How would you describe the visual essence of India?
MM: To me personally, India is this fluid and harmonious mix of city-chaos and rural-tranquility. I came once 8 years ago and I was hooked. Visually I’ve never found anywhere comparable and as captivating as here, but how can I say succinctly what the visual essence of India is? As an outsider, it’s this dancing bombardment on the senses, that I fell in love with.