ARTFINDER: The All Seeing Eye by Mahlia Amatina - The power of the mind’s eye and all that goes w...

ARTFINDER: The All Seeing Eye by Mahlia Amatina - The power of the mind’s eye and all that goes w...

Kathmandu Calling! The Story Behind the Exhibiition: Part II

NAMASTE! And thank you for reading :) I am a self-taught artist looking to change the world. My entire ethos and being is about adding value and helping others. Nepal needs us, guys! Sure, a lot of other people do too, but one step at a time I say. 

So, why is Nepal so different to any other Country post-earthquake...? Good question. Well, firstly the terrain in Nepal is literally insane. Winter is coming, or pretty much here in fact. And life is incredibly tough for the living. Not only have these people lost 1000s of their own people, but most of the buildings and homes there have been destroyed. Shelter, even temporary, is paramount and desperately needed with the cold conditions coming. Monsoon season, which has now gone, has led to landslides which happen each year, and sadly more deaths. And that is just the beginning.

Your efforts with funding would help *gigantically*. Some of the factors include:

- Paintings and Workshops would be Sold at the Two Week Exhibition: this would help my two carefully chosen charities:  http://oursansar.org/ and http://phasenepal.org/ to continue with the already immense and brilliant work that they are currently doing. 

- Lives can be saved and conditions made better for the people in Nepal suffering from the physical and mental effects of two earthquakes and having to start their lives from scratch again.

- The Nepal-specific paintings and workshops will help inform and educate people about the country: its culture, landscapes, people - as well as reminding people of the Nepal earthquakes (some people feel that the earthquakes took place years ago)

- Art can help people engage with their local communities and this is the gap that I genuinely wish to bridge between the significant Gurkha population of Reading, along with the multi-nationalism that currently exists amongst Reading's ever-changing make-up.

 COME ALONG TONIGHT! FOR AMATINA IS A KATHMANDU CALLING, AS THESE NEPALI BOYS SAY ANYWAY ;)

"See the exhibition and immerse yourself with the Nepali-style workshops - at both Jelly and Watlington House Hall in Reading. Full details on venues and how to get there can be found on the website, here"

Kathmandu Central

Kathmandu Calling! The Story Behind the Exhibition: Part I

Soo, as I’m sure a lot of you would have heard by now: that Kathmandu is Calling in the name of art, the power of community – and will be bringing a true Nepalese cultural experience to Reading and beyond… Hurrah!

But what does this mean and why am I doing it? The mind slowly ponders... Well firstly, I have a great kinship with the country after volunteering there with children doing pre-school and after-school clubs with the kids; helping them with their Maths and English, as well as assisting with painting their (highly porous!) school walls. My volunteering also included a month at an orphanage in South Nepal with some of the most glorious children I have met. But it wasn’t just volunteering, you see. It was so much more than that. Yes, sure, I travelled and had some wonderful touristic experiences. True. However when you are volunteering – you are living amongst the community and therefore become a part of it. It adds a whole other dimension to the experience. I was staying in basic digs, eating their (amazing!) food and walking, talking their language. I loved it. I hadn’t met people like this before in my life – nor a country as beautiful as this. Unlike any other place I have been to in the world – simply because the world is so vast – Nepal is the first (and only place) that I have wanted to go back to. 

And back I went. I returned earlier this year to re-visit and travel some more. This was back in Feb, using redundancy funds from my previous life in the corporate role – Nepal was going to be the dividing line between the two lives. The line drawn in the sand, so to speak. The day I came back from Nepal, I decided to become an artist. Not only that, but I decided to do my first series of paintings dedicated to Nepal. This happened to be just two days before the first of the two horrific earthquakes hit Nepal. I was devastated at the news of the Quakes. Wholly and completely.

I’ve done a lot of work in that time: I have set myself up as an artist and made the decision that my first exhibition would absolutely be to help Nepal. I created my website: http://www.mahliaamatina.com/ and am currently working on the body of work that will be revealed at the exhibition, starting tomorrow (19^th Oct).

“It goes without saying that my first solo exhibition; ‘Kathmandu Calling!’ is dedicated to the people of Nepal - for their insatiable courage, profound spirit and overall resilience”

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah! A Time-Warp back to the Jackson's Store, Reading

Nostalgia bites and the store would feature in the ‘Best of British’ if only more people knew of it. Those from Reading, Berkshire and the other seven store locations in the South-East may know what I mean when I say that Jackson’s wasn’t just your 'average' high street store. It was like stepping into a time machine cascading back through the decades; a monumental museum to gawp at in awe, yet it had its duties: the store was infamous for kitting out the County’s kids with their school uniform. And hordes of them too. The charms of Reading don’t come much greater than this place – quirky, archaic and… well just oh so British!

Why am I mentioning this department store and what’s with the past tense? Well the store has now closed down after a whopping 145 years of trading (cor!). And it now plays host to a number of charities including the Bike Kitchen, but more importantly, to me: Jelly. This is where I will be hosting my very first solo art exhibition: ‘Kathmandu Calling!’ from 19^th – 31^st October 2015.

I walked into the store a few weeks back to meet with the delightful Suzanne Stallard (Director and Founder of Jelly) and the nostalgia hit me and took right over – I was an 11 year-old again, shopping with my parents and sister for my new school year Waingels Copse uniform. I remembered it so well, I felt like an old person creaking on about the past in parrot-fashion and quickly had to stop myself before my exhibition venue was swiftly aborted. Oh, nostalgia!

So where was I? BAM! I was flung back to the 1990s. That's right. See Jackson’s were renowned for their ‘old-fashioned-ways’ of doing things. So for example, receipts were all hand written out on an a receipt slip from a book. Not so strange you say? It is for a huge three floor department store, which is busy with people buy numerous items! Most remarkably though, it had a network of these pneumatic tubes, which basically meant that if you bought something; your cash and purchase itinerary would be put in to one of these ‘magic capsules’ and transported via these tubes directly to the cash room. Your order would be dealt with and the change sent back down this ‘tube system’ (who said only the London Underground had tubes?!) – back to the sales assistant and customer. Voila! The system built in the 1940s, they continued to use this ingenious method of trading until it closed in December 20013. WOW. I told you the place was special, right..?!

To exhibit at Jackson’s corner in the Old School Uniform department is a tremendous honour. Like truly. Edward Jackson back in 1875, built their family business up from scratch and *always* had a family member running the store from inception till death do us part. Though of course it lives on. This blog is living proof of that.

And why did they close? Some say they weren’t profiteering from the new age of internet shopping and modern technology. Officially though, the building maintenance costs and the huge modern shopping complex next door were declared as primary reasons for closure. Well one's thing for sure is that they left with their head held high! And I could not have asked for such an important venue to be the base for my very first solo exhibition in Reading – which is also my birth town and home today btw! One cannot wait :)

'Jungle Beats' by Mahlia Amatina ©

Jungle Beats - can you hear the beats? I know I can! Inspired by my African roots, this video enables you to engage with the painting up close and to really see and feel the movement and flow of energy in rapid succession. A real quality experience for those unable to see my work in the flesh.

'Floral Spirit' by Mahlia Amatina ©

'Floral Spirit' - a particularly special favourite of mine,
it shows the journey from dark to light and everything in between. A real sense
of depth of soul and emotion: this is certainly one of my most spiritual
paintings, inspired no doubt by the exploration of energy flow in a more
personal journey.

'Urban Soul' by Mahlia Amatina ©

Up-close and personal with New York inspired 'Urban Soul. A raw and rugged take on NY City and its apartments and architectural influences. This painting captures the soul of its buildings with its earthy tones and a mix of mark-marking and contrasting colours. Check it out :)

ALL ABROAD! FIRST STOP: KENLEY

Rhymes with Henley and starts with a ‘K’. Yes, folks, that’s right – one’s year of nomadic living has officially started in K-K-Kenley!

Virtually a village (it’s pitch black at night!), yet with the everyday conveniences of oh ye faithful post box(?!), Co-Op and a cash point - equipped with a mere half hour commute into central London – Kenley has all that modern-day-malarkey, as one makes the leap of faith from moving out of Central London and potentially onto the <gulp!> ‘property ladder’. Big stuff… You also have here the *beautiful* Surrey Downs – so ample green space - and at just 36 minutes away is Gatwick Airport. This really is South London’s suburbia at its finest… ;)

Sooo enough about Kenley itself, before you begin to think I'm employed by their tourist board, and let the adventure begin! Why am I here? Good question! For yes, I have mentioned nomadic living, and here I am on my very first house-sitting assignment with this cute lil’ fella; Hunter! A gorgeous, small cat who fits in all my little nooks and crevices when I sit or rest up. Bless him… I am taking care of him and his owner’s flat while they’re away.

Is that a bit weird? Living in someone else’s place…? Well, actually, surprisingly - no. We all need new perspectives, and a change in environment gives you exactly that. It keeps the senses attuned – but not overly - because I am still in Blighty, after all! But it definitely inspires, as it’s unlikely I would have created certain paintings, had I been in my normal location. Plus – you are living in a ‘human being’s’ place – not Martians! We’re all more similar that you may allow yourself to think ;)

Sounds good! Any challenges? Well, erm, I guess there was this small case of Hunter half-heartedly attacking a mouse, as cats do. On the stairwell. Close to the flat. I wasn't entirely sure how I would stop Hunter from bringing the mouse in either – he has a tag on his collar which ‘beeps him in’ through his cat-flap (so I don’t wake up to half a dozen cats). Anyway, it was all fine in the end. Just the minuscule embarrassment of me *yelling* at a tiny cat through a quiet block of flats, going ‘NOOOO, Hunter, noooo! – that MOUSE. Does. Not. Belong. here!’ In my high-pitched voice, saved for these very such occasions.  Ah well, at least no-one knows me round here ;0

So that’s all from me. Mahlia Amatina. Reporting live from Kenley. Over and out now… 

In Its Elements - Raku Firing

Raku means "enjoyment". And boy, we had fun. A literal explosion of light, smoke and fire – extraordinary afternoons don’t get much better than this!

It started with discovering a new park in London; the lovely Burgess Park near the mighty Elephant (and Castle). Always a good starting point. Next: arriving and being fed some home-made, Chinese-style dumplings made by the one and only: The-Nam’s-Girlfriend's-Mum. Delicious. And we were yet to begin the Raku at Cernamic - things were certainly looking up :)

I’ve been doing ceramics for several years now. I’ve explored the intricacies of different clays; their varying temperaments and temperatures of firing, while becoming equally accustomed to the glazing techniques, mould making and throwing itself. All endless good fun, sure – ceramics really can provide a lifetime of intrigue.

And then there’s Raku to add to the mix too.

So what is this ‘Raku’ business I keep harping on about…?! Well, I’m glad you asked. Put simply: when you complete your masterpiece in clay (and let it dry out etc.) – it then needs to be fired in a kiln, which is effectively like a large oven that ‘cooks’ your item. They’re expensive, so need to be filled to the max for cost-efficiency and then take a good 12 hours of ‘cooking’ – and again, this all dependent on the type of kiln, the temperature required for the clay and whatnot. Sometimes you’re waiting weeks before you have your work back and that Christmas ceramic pot present for aunty Lily ends up becoming an Easter gift, when you don't even do Easter gifts. Doh.

So instead of all that hanging about, we have Raku-firing at the rescue! An ancient eastern model of firing, yet ironically suits today’s western culture of ‘NOW’. The ‘cooking’ is done in front of you, so you can go home with your completed piece of pottery. Voila! But that’s not the only genius part of it. The genius is in the ‘live’ process of it – the jaw-dropping notion of watching the mini-oven being lit – watching as the temperature rises to its desired 950 degrees Celsius – watching as you have no idea how your work will turn out (eek!). I mean, *wow* - how exciting…?!

So what next? Well, once the desired temperature has been reached, the oven needs to be opened – and no joke: a literal blast of hot furnace air – a live fire - is taken out and carefully controlled, while the items are plucked out and plunged into a dustbin of sawdust – covered in more sawdust - then wet newspaper - and then the final piece: ‘the bin lid’. BOOM! And eureka – it’s completed… (as soon as the temperature cools enough for you to touch it!)

The best part, for me, was the sense of evolutionary change and the incredible amount of energy the whole method possessed. Due to the process of changing temperatures and the interaction with the elements – the colours on our masterpieces kept on and on and on changing – I cannot emphasise the change enough! Right in front of our very eyes! My soap holder or ‘Trevi Fountain V2’, as I prefer to call it, was like a literal chameleon. Amazing.

Magic…? Close… Scientists may beg to differ, though I prefer the Culture Club view of Karma Chameleon ;)

Either way – check out the pics and do give it a whirl!

Starburst Forest - Painting by Mahlia Amatina © | The Abstract Colourist

Laying Roots: Nepal - Painting by Mahlia Amatina © | The Abstract Colourist

Up Close On: 'Escapade'

Escapade is the representation of the kindred spirit. Its linguistic origins stem from the freedom of restraint in our worldly quest to be comfortable in one’s own throes. With roots in Latin, it portrays the universality of concept across various languages, and our familiarity with such feelings of striving for purpose and meaning, in life.

A seascape impression was created with varying brush strokes to convey the pace of the hunt; as well as waves and movement - with an incline towards a ‘loch ness monster’ figure on the left of the canvas. This figure denotes the fantastical truth, or foe, formed around a notion of mystery, wonder and awe. In the same manner as Nessie’s renowned tales; Escapade was created from the same root of intrigue.

The vibrant magentas are used with warm oranges and yellows in a striking palette to depict the construe of ‘wild adventure’ and ‘carefree capers’ that make up the act or pursuit in life’s non-linear mission of understanding.

"This painting is a tribute to those on their journey into their evolving souls to find their very own moment in Escapade"