I would describe my work as surrealist art of the imagination," begins Dubai-based artist Sindhu Jumani. "I like to think that I take my audience to a place of dreams and fantasy through the canvas."
That is in fact exactly what Jumani, originally from Pakistan, does. Using swathes of pronounced hues paired with delicate detail, her celestial pieces are both tribal and modern, thought-provoking and peaceful.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in New York with a BA in Fine Art, Jumani has lived in Dubai for the past six years and says that while the sandy city "does play an important role when it comes to my work" her "main inspiration actually comes in the form of my muse".
She adds, "While this muse may not physically exist in real life - I think of her as being ‘somewhere else' - aspects of her are present in all of us in one form or another. These traits are what come through in my paintings."
The muse Jumani is talking about is the striking woman colourfully portrayed in most of her work. "She is an ordinary woman who goes through the trials and tribulations of life and comes out strong and beautiful on the other side," Jumani explains. "It's her process, and the various roles she plays and represents as a woman through life, that I put down on canvas."
Although Jumani is clear about what her work means to her, she is quick to add that her "art is open to interpretation." She says, "The woman in the paintings, and in fact the paintings themselves, will no doubt mean something different to everyone. That's part of the magic of art."
Jumani, who describes her work as "fluid and ethereal" says her paintings are composed of "several layers and transparency." She adds, "I love embellishments, print and pattern. Although my paintings take on the essence of what I am inspired by at that particular point in my life, I almost always use strong, vibrant colours; they truly represent who I am as a person and are a powerful inspiration."
Talking about artists she admires, the name Gustav Klimt (Austrian painter) comes up. "He is the ideal symbologist and surrealist," Jumani says. "He introduced sensuality to art and I like to think that I pick up on the ethereal aspect of his work."
Painting from a spare room that's been converted into a studio in her home, as "it allows me to be close to my two-year-old daughter," Jumani says she's looking forward to creating new artwork and "hopefully exhibiting in Pakistan and New York in the near future."
On whether she has a favourite painting of her own, she says, "I enjoy the painting where my muse is looking up above her in wonder. I see this piece as representing a kind of divine spirituality, with blessings being showered upon her. I feel positive and inspired when I look at this piece, just as I felt when I was painting it."
Sindhu Jumani Email sindhujumani2003@yahoo.com or tel 050 508 4693
