« From a very young age, I have been attracted to art, » said Kanan Shah, graphic designer for Wanderlust. « I come from a spiritual family and growing up I would see my parents go to a hindu temple everyday in the morning to offer prayers. This became a part of my daily ritual, too. »
Born and raised in Bombay, India, Shah started mimicking temple paintings, portraits and scenes of lives from Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
« The vibrant colors, the mysticism, the untold secrets in the symbolism and the energy it carried was something that I kept going back to again and again, » Shah said. « I knew then that I wanted to become an artist. »
For more than 10 years, Shah has been practicing ink and calligraphy on paper. She sells her work and has been commissioned to design pieces for spas.
« My guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, said, ‘Art should create a feeling of wonder and sarcasm.’ » Shah said. « That’s the basis of my paintings. A lot of my material comes from spiritual talks by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, from scenes and lives of hindu gods and goddesses. But I add a twist of modern day events, humor and playfulness to it. »
As with many artists, Shah experiences a very special feeling when she is creating her art.
« I feel at home. At home you are natural and comfortable. Home is a place that is so deep within you – the source of everything and nothing. This place is the source of love, joy and peace, which, in turn, fulfills that longing of being one with the infinite. »
[envira-gallery id= »58371″]To contact, Kanan Shah, you can email her.