Tracing Memories of Mumbai On The Cityscape Of New York Through Watercolour paintings

Painting by Samiksha Adukia

At some point in life, you arrive at crossroads where you are compelled to make tough decisions. They need not always have far-reaching consequences, nor can you always claim them to be the right ones, but they almost always end up driving some kind of change in your life. More often than not, they also tend to open up new perspectives of looking at the world, an ability to love the new without having to stop loving the old.

Samiksha Adukia is an artist hailing from Mumbai, who swears by the motto, “Paint what you love”. It has led her to ask herself what it was that she indeed loved. She didn’t have to look far while trying to find an answer. Having spent a significant portion of her life in Mumbai, she found it to be the only place she truly loved. But then life happened, and she had to move to New York City. Very soon, she started exploring the new city, but the memories of Mumbai never left her. However, the haunting similarities in the energy, lifestyle and diversity of both the cities made her feel at home in an uncanny way. It led her to create a series by incorporating the sights and sounds of Mumbai into the roads of New York. The experience of creating such a unique series has made her aware of man’s potential to stretch his horizon and still be able to find something that feels like home.

We have asked her a few questions about her art, which she claims is an ode to both Mumbai and New York, an ode to the experience of moving out of comfort zones and embracing the unfamiliar.

Who have been your biggest inspirations over the years of your artistic career?

Sabyasachi, for the power of rich and deep texture in art, Dayanita Singh for the power of presentation, Hatecopy for the power of building prolific work on a single, strong concept, and Tim Saternow - a teacher I took workshops with in the Art Students League of New York, who inspired my current painting technique.

Can you tell me the way in which you build on an idea before you start working on it?

I imagine a painting in my head and start with doing photographic research, or vice versa. I let the idea stay in my head for about 4-6 months before I actually start working on it. This helps me to build up on my research, or eliminate it altogether.

I keep a moment - wide angle mobile lens in my backpack at all times, and use that with my iPhone for art photography. At times, I would collaborate with a photographer or photograph management websites for reference photographs. I draw using a combination of “projector in dark room”, “block technique” and “free hand” styles. The painting process comprises two key elements - (1) a strong undertone (usually with Payne’s grey), and (2) iteration of obscuring, breaking, repainting and highlighting details. (My husband says that the third key element is the panic attacks that I have!). The key materials used for this include the Arches rough or cold-pressed paper and Winsor & Newton professional watercolors

What is the first piece of art that impacted you deeply and why?

The beautiful carvings in the various temples of India were my first inspiration. During my adolescence, I used to go to temples very often; for me, they were like visits to art museums.