Interview
Preeti Sarathi
Preeti was born in India, but is currently in Germany. She graduated from Delhi College of Art, New Delhi in 1993, and also did a portfolio course in Graphic design at Central Saint Martins in 1998.
Preeti’s art conveys a spiritual feeling of togetherness, of oneness and understanding, universality and compassion through her works. Her theme is that we are all one, a part of nature and universe.
When we start living from that perspective, only then will we stop differentiating between each other and start living this priceless gift of life that we are all blessed with. And that is what Preeti wishes for this world, and tries to convey through her works.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Since I was a child, I’ve always drawn or painted in my free time. I won a few prizes and awards for my art while in school. Considering that I was good in painting at school, I decided to take painting at the College of art, New Delhi, and graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Art. Soon after completing a year-long portfolio course in Graphic design in London, life took over and I couldn’t delve into creativity for a long time. But the urge was always there. Now I am slowly building my art. It’s like meditation for me, and my way of giving back to society. Through my art, I share the insights of my spiritual path.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“I am a spiritual person, and I hope to spread spirituality through my work. I want people to be able to relate to my work, gain a feeling of connectivity with each other, and experience peace. We are all one, and a part of this amazing universe, so we should live in companionship and with gratitude. This is the emotion I hope to evoke through my art.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“Abstract figurative and abstract expressionism is evident in my work.”
“The connection between people and the expression of their body language is of great interest to me. Through that, I try to portray their emotions and oneness.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I like my works to evolve. I like to play initially with colors, textures, lines and mark making, and slowly the image emerges. Sometimes I get a vision of some idea that I would like to pursue, in which case I start with the initial idea and let it evolve as I go about making it. This is all part of the process of making my art.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I use acrylic, pastels, pencil, charcoal, all kinds of mark-making tools. I keep experimenting with new materials and techniques as I go.”
What does your art mean to you?
"I love creating. It’s my passion. My art is a kind of meditation for me. I’ve learned to keep pushing the boundaries, and move it further as I go.”
Which artists inspire you most?
“When I was in college, I was inspired by Matisse’s works — the bold use of colors, and his forms and abstraction. Also, Picasso’s bold line works had a great influence on me. Later, I admired works created by David Park and Richard Diebenkorn. John Tun Sein and Nicholas Wilton are other artists whom I have learnt a great deal from, and still learning.”
What themes do you pursue?
“Light and movement play a great role in my art. I make much use of lines and pay extra attention to the direction of light, although I like to abstract things as far as possible. Playfulness and boldness go hand-in-hand for me. It’s a process - I’m still learning, and hope to keep learning as I go for the rest of my life.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“I have many favorite artworks. I’m a people person, and like it when I am able to portray a strong emotion well.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I won some prizes and also a state award in school. In college, I received the Yuva Mahautsav award among other prizes. I just want to make meaningful art, let’s see where it takes me.”
Instagram: @preetisar72
Other: Facebook
