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CayD CAPTURE

A tribute to passion

Celebrates people and accounts that make and leave an impression.

Vimala Nair

53 years old | Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Celebrates people and accounts that make and leave an impression. Generally, art is a conversation that I veer away from. When I received this assignment which involved speaking and writing to someone with an affinity for abstract art, I was anxious but also excited. I researched articles featuring artists and their work and wrote questions to share with Vimala. During this time, I reminisced about the art periods in school and my dismal pieces, reminding myself why art was never my thing and wondering if I could have dug deeper. On the day of the interview, I dialled the number and waited.

The voice that came on the voice on the other end started with, “Oh my, I am really humbled that you would want to speak with me about my art.” What came next was a sense of calmness as we eased into a 45-minute conversation that left me with so much to think about – unpursued ambitions, lost opportunities, and challenges I shied away from. Vimala’s parting words to the interview made me realise – we can let time take its toll on us or let it be a testament to who we can be.

Vimala Nair

53 years old | Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Generally, art is a conversation that I veer away from. When I received this assignment which involved speaking and writing to someone with an affinity for abstract art, I was anxious but also excited. I researched articles featuring artists and their work and wrote questions to share with Vimala. During this time, I reminisced about the art periods in school and my dismal pieces, reminding myself why art was never my thing and wondering if I could have dug deeper. On the day of the interview, I dialled the number and waited.

Life Lines

An artistic journey through the testament of time

A tribute to Vimala Nair Thillainathan, whose love for art transcends the misgivings of societal norms.

Lines

When Vimala Nair Thillainathan looks at a piece of paper, she sees a canvas of endless possibilities. “Often, I start with one line, then another. And then I join the lines. A pattern begins to form with more lines and joins, and then I add colours and shades, and the piece develops,” shared Vimala. “Just like life, we never know where it leads us, but we know that we move from one phase to another and in the chaos of that, we try to have some semblance of sanity,” she enthused. Vimala’s earliest recollection of drawing, or doodling rather, was when she was eight or nine. “As far as I can recall, I draw because I am happy.”

Full-stop?

“I wanted to study art after Form Five but my parents said, ‘You do know right, that you’re not going to get paid.’ So, I went the opposite direction and did a bachelor’s in information technology.” In the ensuing years, Vimala kept busy raising a family and experiencing life in several cities. “But I kept drawing, mostly abstract art. I tried portraits and landscapes but always returned to abstract art,” she said. “I liked that abstract art is personal to the person who draws it and the person who is looking at it.”

The isolation of the Pandemic gave way to more exploratory pieces, and with this came a realisation. “As much I enjoyed drawing, I felt I didn’t know how to draw,” Vimala lamented. “I wanted to understand the theories of art, its technics and above all, the perspectives of the great artists,” she added. This was the catalyst for her to enrol in a Course in Fine Arts offered by the Sessions College for Professional Design in Tempe, Arizona. “This was my chance and I wasn’t about to let it pass.”

On record

As expected, the course started with an “Introduction to Drawing” that explained the theories and then classes on using measurements. “We did a history of art,” shared Vimala. From the beginning, people drew on the walls of caves to record their daily activities. “They recorded the numbers of their livestock and the harvesters. They drew to record festivals as they did floods,” she explained.

From the Renaissance to the Baroque era and right up to today, experiences and encounters have been the food and fuel of art. “Life and art are inseparable,” she shared, emphasising how the course helped her understand her style and why art was her connection to her emotions. “I connected with myself to better understand who I am and who I can be,” she surmised.

Playback

As in all endeavours, there are challenges and Vimala shared hers. “There have been times when I have had to walk away from a piece of work. There have also been times when I have had to decide that “no, this is not good enough.” Walking away does not mean discarding; neither is it a sign of surrender. Vimala explained that taking some time off to return with a fresh set of eyes could prove beneficial. “Often, I am re-energised and I finish the piece, but at times, I have had to put pieces away and that’s okay.”

“‘Crazy Fantasy’ is an amalgamation of elements of work that I felt was not good enough,” she revealed. “It was strange that I loved the ‘playback’ piece but was unhappy with the individual pieces. That’s life too. Having less-than-perfect experiences is okay because there is no life without its twists and turns,” she added.

Life

Like any person would, Vimala sought validation for her work. “I can’t deny the times when I felt like nobody. During those times, I wanted some sort of acknowledgement,” In the absence of appreciation, Vimala shared, ‘People can get lost. Still, ever so often, I’d get a glimmer of motivation that encouraged me to display my work or write a blog,” said Vimala.

“Appreciation goes a long way and those little nudges made me persevere, to pick up my pens, paper and continue my passage,” she expressed. “Today, I am ready to move to the next adventure. So, find your pen, paper and colours and enjoy the journey. If I can draw, so can you.”

CayD CAPTURE

A tribute to passion

Vimala Nair

Vimala Nair

Life Lines

An artistic journey through the testament of time

Lines

Full-stop?

On record

Playback

Life

Vimala’s work is featured throughout the CayD website. She is currently working on her blog. Stay tuned for further updates.

Vimala Nair, Collision (2018)

Abstract Art, 18"x24”, Colouring pen on watercolor paper

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Catalogue

Quick Links

Catalogue

Vimala Nair, Collision (2018)

Abstract Art, 18"x24”, Colouring pen on watercolor paper