The Artist's Soul™
This is a live, reflective, non-commercial Conversation Series curated and hosted by AVIS at Wandering Artist. It explores the lived experiences and expressions of artists in a unique, never-before manner. You may have seen or heard AVIS' guests performing, or you may have seen their work. But this is the first time you will hear these artists share their learnings from Life and what inspires their art.
This Series ran for the 2017 and 2018 Seasons and has currently been paused by Vaani and AVIS for time/bandwidth reasons!
Please scroll down to see pictures and videos from all Editions.
This Series ran for the 2017 and 2018 Seasons and has currently been paused by Vaani and AVIS for time/bandwidth reasons!
Please scroll down to see pictures and videos from all Editions.
The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Ilango
Over the last 45 years, Ilango's artistic expression has always been reflective of his Life experiences. From the rural abundance of Gobichettipalayam (where he grew up), to the majesty of the architecture of the Madurai Meenakshi temple, to the gloominess of living in a metro, to his world-famous bull series, to his evocative portrayal of Sakthi now, his art truly showcases his journey! But there's a lot more to explore in Ilango's story: What made this post-graduate in Mathematics embrace art in the first place? What inspirations did he lean on to teach himself to be the celebrated artist that he is today? How does he rise above the pulls and pressures of worldly Life, to come alive, to create such precious art? AVIS Viswanathan was in conversation with Ilango on Nov 3rd, 2018
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Bosskey
Question to Bosskey: Comedian, yes! But you are also a Cricket Commentator, Film Critic, Columnist, TV Show Host, Actor, RJ, Playwright, Model, Crossword Creator and a former Banker & Cricketer - Aren't you a jack of all trades? Pat comes his reply: No, I am a JOKE of all trades!!! That's Bosskey for you - forever unplugged!!! His bizarrely bright shirts, his glowing pate and his laser-sharp, spontaneous, wit - he even joked in the ICU after a near-fatal accident in 2011 - are part of folklore now ; his body of work spans three decades! Yet, so little is known of him. What makes this man laugh at Life - almost non-stop? What inspires him to find humor in everyone and everything? Come, let's together unravel the mind and the heart of this unstoppable joke machine... AVIS Viswanathan was in conversation with Bosskey on Oct 6th, 2018
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Isaikkavi Ramanan
Being in conversation with Isaikkavi Ramanan (Venkateswaran Anantaramaseshan Taruvai) was a blessing for the audience. Ramanan talked about Life, happiness, the divine, his Parasakthi, the difference between Spirituality & Religion, his inspirations for his art, his poetry and the 'joy of work'..he spoke on how he views detachment - from recognition and reward; on how he stays anchored and above this world, while still living in it. He shared how he and his wonderful companion Anu, and his two children (and their companions/families), live in a constant let-go and celebration of this magnificent Universe, of creation...
AVIS leaned on Osho to sum up his experience of speaking to and learning from, Ramanan: "A spiritual person is one whose Life is a work of art; there is a deep harmony between mind, body and consciousness; their Life is a joy to witness - it is fragrant, it is beautiful!"
It was a brilliant conversation with Ramanan breaking off into song and verse at times...with AVIS sharing notes, or taking away learnings...everyone who was there went fulfilled, deeply touched and awakened...the rest can catch the YouTube link on this page.
AVIS leaned on Osho to sum up his experience of speaking to and learning from, Ramanan: "A spiritual person is one whose Life is a work of art; there is a deep harmony between mind, body and consciousness; their Life is a joy to witness - it is fragrant, it is beautiful!"
It was a brilliant conversation with Ramanan breaking off into song and verse at times...with AVIS sharing notes, or taking away learnings...everyone who was there went fulfilled, deeply touched and awakened...the rest can catch the YouTube link on this page.
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Srekala Bharath
Most people may be pinned down when a serious health challenge strikes. Not Srekala though. She not only faced Life squarely, she learnt to live it fully, happily, immersing herself in dance. 34 years on, Srekala does not see dance as just an art form; to her, it is an offering to the divine - an endless thanksgiving for who she is. Come, join us as Srekala talks about what moves her, enriches her and helps her share and give.
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The Artist's Soul™Featuring Shekar Dattatri
It was an outstanding Edition of The Artist's Soul at Wandering Artist! It was a full, over-flowing, house!
Shekar Dattatri was eloquent, genuine, evocative with all that he shared - every member of the audience took away a personal learning! AVIS felt particularly blessed that he had the opportunity to draw the usually reclusive Shekar to talk about the "making of the conservation champion" that he is today! He refused to accept that he was the rockstar of wildlife and conservation awareness film-making, saying those are "AVIS' words". Instead he preferred being called someone "who is cause-driven and who is in pursuit of excellence in whatever he does".
People like Shekar are rare to come by these days. He's been following his bliss for over four decades now. And in the last 18+ years he's stopped working for TV - a medium that was personally very rewarding for him. He now makes films only for a cause. He says rewards and recognition don't matter to him any more. What matters to him is that his work must help those who are trying to make our world a better place.
AVIS leaned, yet again, on Rumi's words to sum up the conversation : "In a night full of pain and darkness, be a candle spreading light until dawn!" That's what Shekar's doing...he's that candle spreading light with his work, even if the world mindlessly edges perilously close to self-destruction in the name of economics and development!
Shekar Dattatri was eloquent, genuine, evocative with all that he shared - every member of the audience took away a personal learning! AVIS felt particularly blessed that he had the opportunity to draw the usually reclusive Shekar to talk about the "making of the conservation champion" that he is today! He refused to accept that he was the rockstar of wildlife and conservation awareness film-making, saying those are "AVIS' words". Instead he preferred being called someone "who is cause-driven and who is in pursuit of excellence in whatever he does".
People like Shekar are rare to come by these days. He's been following his bliss for over four decades now. And in the last 18+ years he's stopped working for TV - a medium that was personally very rewarding for him. He now makes films only for a cause. He says rewards and recognition don't matter to him any more. What matters to him is that his work must help those who are trying to make our world a better place.
AVIS leaned, yet again, on Rumi's words to sum up the conversation : "In a night full of pain and darkness, be a candle spreading light until dawn!" That's what Shekar's doing...he's that candle spreading light with his work, even if the world mindlessly edges perilously close to self-destruction in the name of economics and development!
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring T M Karthik
In the 15th Edition of The Artist's Soul on Saturday, April 21st with T M Karthik 'The Artist's Soul' Series at Wandering Artist, Karthik shared with us why happiness matters most to him!
His memory of performing to just one person in the audience in UK was truly awakening. Equally powerful was his take on what must make parents proud - their child being happy or their child being successful materially? At times humorous, at times deeply reflective and at some other points spiritual, Karthik's insights and perspectives were remarkably original and from the heart.
His memory of performing to just one person in the audience in UK was truly awakening. Equally powerful was his take on what must make parents proud - their child being happy or their child being successful materially? At times humorous, at times deeply reflective and at some other points spiritual, Karthik's insights and perspectives were remarkably original and from the heart.
Photographs by Vinod Velayudhan |
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Timeri Murari
Curating and hosting the 14th Edition of The Artist's Soul on Saturday, March 10 with Timeri Murari was a privilege. He talked about his early influences. It was a revelation that up until his late teens/early 20s, the only writing that Tim did was he wrote "love letters" that he says "did not yield much results"! We talked about the themes of love and relationships that he has often explored in his books. He shared insights on where his inspirations came from - for ideas that became books and for the characters that come alive in them. He spoke about being honest in writing and believing in your work. He talked about his views on destiny, religion, God and spirituality while refering to (non-fiction/true-story) works of his - 'My Temporary Son' and 'Limping to the Centre of the World'. His take on happiness - "be(ing) content with what is".
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Photographs by Vinod Velayudhan
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The Artist's Soul™ Featuring Swarnamalya
At the 13th Edition of The Artist's Soul on Saturday, February 10, 2018, it was a beautiful and endearing conversation. Swarnamalya's simplicity, honesty, devotion for her Guru KJ Sarasa, her inner strength in facing Life's upheavals stoically, her thirst for learning and her love for Life - all these stood out.
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The Big B Special at The Artist's Soul™
As the Big B's Big 'devotee', AVIS pays a personal tribute and explore the man behind the Superstar. What makes Amitabh Bachchan still stay relevant, across generations; what can we learn from him, from his upheavals and from his ability to stay grounded despite all his achievements?
There was great music and super hit dialogues from his films on show too - and also a rare, soul-baring, inspiring interview with him!
There was great music and super hit dialogues from his films on show too - and also a rare, soul-baring, inspiring interview with him!
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