Interview
Chloe Shalini
Chloe is an oil painter and Ma'at Sekhem 'energy healer' with a background in severe mental health, dementia and special needs. She creates images and writes for self-healing, empowerment and unity over separation. She is motivated by the One Love message.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Although I always loved art as a very young child, I was deeply concerned by the misery and despair I saw within my immediate family and beyond via the news media. Additionally, I couldn't see how I could possibly make a living out of my first love, which was drawing and painting. I did dabble with an art foundation course around 1998 but soon felt I wasn't a 'true' artist and abandoned this to focus on my love for supporting people in distress. In 2001, I completed a BA degree in Social Policy (University of Birmingham, UK) and had already completed 18 months as a 'User Involvement' volunteer at a local mental health day center so I was able to move into the field of Social Care. I kept painting because I needed that outlet and had a solo show in 2005. I then worked in dementia care, adult mental health outreach and special needs support. In 2007, I was desperate to leave the system and joined a holistic center in London, where I began my informal training in 'energy healing', an area of interest since childhood. My visionary tendencies were stimulated and I could see a path beginning to emerge for my work. From 2009, I began pushing myself to make connections and take part in various art shows within the London area. I set up an Etsy shop and began learning how to work in the digital world - a very slow and often painful process for a non-techie person such as myself!”
What inspires you?
“The visions and communications I have during meditation and healing work plus various past and present wisdom teachers. Additionally, my mixed cultural background has played a large part. This is a combination of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Gnosticism. Many of my images are obviously influenced by ancient religious art and I still find great inspiration here, everything from orthodox Christian icon art to Buddhist temples. In my earlier years, I was very much a social commentator type, but I no longer need to add to that body of work; I believe there are others far better suited to this now, Banksy, for instance, is a particular favourite of mine.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work is all about holistic healing and self-empowerment. Incorporating Reiki, Ma'at Sekhem, means 'the Power of the Light of Truth', referring to ones' inner Truth or Knowing. This has origins far beyond Ancient Egypt. It began for me in 2009 and my art, my oil paintings are a reflection of this. For instance, I am working on an 'oracle card' project. This is a simple tool for self-help. The images and messages within are intended to help a person get where they want to go, in terms of self-knowledge, self-confidence and emotional healing. Other paintings are deliberately designed as visual tools for meditation and to assist in a person's learning about the human energy system (my understanding of this is based upon the Hindu chakra system and more modern interpretations of the human energy field or auric layers). Awakening consciousness and unconditional love, including that towards ones' Self are the main themes at present. Much of our lives are spent on automatic pilot until we either choose or are forced to confront ourselves, frequently through ill health, loss, disability, and so forth. I firmly believe, due to lived experience, that people can become far more empowered then they presently believe themselves to be and therefore more content by taking up practices such as 'mindfulness' or being in 'the present moment', and other simple techniques like learning to/remembering to breathe from the belly not just the upper chest as this greatly reduced anxiety. We all have an IGS, 'inner guidance system', my phrase for intuition, but are trained away from this in our early years due to social and cultural conditioning. I seek to do what I can to help others learn to trust and hear their own Knowing. In this way we can become conscious co-creators of a more peaceful and beautiful world.”
How would you describe your work?
“Visionary Symbolism. In my early years, I had extremes of experience that went far beyond words - this was the catalyst that I needed to develop a pictorial language for self-expression, to give me a therapeutic way to manage my emotions. From this, I turned inwards and developed inner visual abilities. The symbols I employ now, are frequently rooted in the past but with sometimes a personal or modernized twist. I'm also a colour therapist so utilize the energy or frequency of colour in a very deliberate manner, again for the purposes of self-healing and Awakening.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I discovered Frida Kahlo aged 15 and her work resonated so deeply I couldn't bare to look for long until some years later; I still feel a great affinity with her. I adore the work of Jenny Saville and Laurie Lipton. Other significant influences have been Dali, Francis Bacon, Vincent van Gogh, Diego Riviera, to name but a few. There are many amazing visionary artists out there these days, but I tend to avoid looking at their work too much so as to avoid ending up as a copyist and also because I can easily fall into self-criticism which doesn't positively serve anyone.”
“My work is all about holistic healing and self-empowerment.”
What is your creative process like?
“A constant stream of consciousness running in my mind, which is rather like a laptop screen with many windows open at once. Learning to switch focus between these 'windows' is still quite a challenge for me. To begin a painting, I tend to do some very rough pencil sketches and then translate that onto a canvas or board. I do start with an underpainting and then layer up. Often, I can only 'see' the first stage of the image and have to step back a while before the rest of it 'comes through', usually through meditation - I'll do that anywhere including on public transport. I always have more than one painting on the go so switch between them at times or, because each one also has associated messages, I'll focus on the message itself to have a rest from painting and then switch back, and so on. I do follow a morning ritual as far as possible which involves yoga, meditation and cacao, all of which raise my energy levels and enhance my focus, whatever the day ahead may bring.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“One role is certainly as social commentator and awakener, this takes many forms as all artists are individuals and people are as varied as the artists who serve them. I believe increasing numbers of us are concerned with ecological issues, solidarity, empowerment and the uplifting of the oppressed. I feel this aspect will increase as more and more of us are concerned with a return to nature - within ourselves as well as our environments - during this time of the crisis of hyper-capitalism. Finally, we are at the stage mentioned in the proverb attributed to the Cree First Nation's ancestors (Canada) - ‘only when the last tree has died, the last river poisoned and the last fish caught will we realize we cannot eat money.’ Artists of all kinds, I include musicians here, are necessary to help motivate, inspire and keep hope alive.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent exhibitions include: Parallax Art Fair - Kensington Town Hall, London (2018); I also have an upcoming exhibition from the 20th - 29th September 2024 - Art on a Loop - Digital expo, London & Athens by The Holy Art Gallery. Opening night is in London, Friday the 20th Sept at The Factory, 21-31 Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2DA.”
