Mirrored - Sonali Bhakta

Sonali Bhakta -

My work is a culmination of the emotions I have felt in the past. My goal is to showcase a bright set of work that is connected through motifs and stories of my experiences. It includes many vibrant colors alongside important symbols.

The body of my work consists of bright colors and motifs of transformation. The bright colors are inspired by the Pop Art Movement, specifically Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney. These artists influence the visually bright aspects of my work, while concealing a deeper meaning. At first, I disliked working with many bright and vibrant colors, however, in the past two years, experimenting with adding bright colors in my work has become a consistent addition to my work. The constant motif of transformation is inspired by Banksy, a street artist who creates work based on current events in the United Kingdom. This is evident in the reappearing flowers and scenes created in my work. Furthermore, acrylic paint is consistent in my work as I have worked to develop my skills with this medium. In my body of work, it is evident that the primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, are key components. The primary colors each represent driving emotions throughout my life - red as love and passion, blue as sadness and trust, yellow as joy and shyness. These colors also reflect Pop Art because they are used as visually bright backgrounds within a painting with deeply rooted meanings. As I reflect on how my work has changed over time, I notice that I enjoy creating visually appealing art that reflects my emotions and experiences.

The three of my artworks with the visually bright backgrounds and small aluminum foil circles in the background are very personal. These pieces are key to understanding how my artwork is connected. They each represent different moments in my life where I feel vulnerable, outcasted, and resilient. Hands of Comfort, with the blue background, presents a moment of help in a vulnerable time. Behind the Mask, with the yellow background, expresses a moment of feeling like an outcast. Cut to the Bone, with the red background, conveys a moment where one’s vulnerability is open to anyone to view. The piece in the center of my work, Alluring Layers, shows an outline of a woman with five flowers on the other side of her face. This piece represents how one’s identity is concealed, yet there is beauty within them. The reappearing flowers are very important to me as each represents specific emotions throughout my life. The red rose is a symbol of love that I have received and given. The lavender is a reminder to stay calm and relax when I overwork myself. The sunflower represents the joy I feel. The bellflower is a reminder to be grateful for all the support I have received. The dahlia is a reminder to take care of myself and build my inner strength. These flowers are also presented in Worn Out, a piece that exhibits different life stages. Some of the flowers are withering, some are thriving, but most importantly, they are all within a cubed vase. This cubed vase with significant flowers shows the oddness of life with any stage of life. All of these flowers are constant reminders that it is okay to feel emotions, even if they are different from other people. Furthermore, Too Bright and Disoriented Faces are pieces that resemble feeling many emotions when events occur around someone. Too Bright reflects feeling upset in waves of happiness around oneself, while Disoriented Faces reflects feeling a combination of emotions from the disillusionment of one’s identity. All of these flowers are constant reminders to focus on myself as I help others through their tough times.

Alluring Layers, acrylic and embroider on canvas, 20 x 20 cm

Alluring Layers is an embroidery on canvas piece that unveils the beauty inside a person. The layered flowers on the right of the piece represents the alluring beauty that is under one’s face, as shown on the left of the piece. The primary colors are prominent in this piece to show parts of a whole, which is also used to reference people. This piece is also in the center of my work because it ties each of the works together, both through the use of colors and intentions behind the pieces.

Cut to the Bone, acrylic and aluminum foil on canvas, 22 x 30 cm

Cut to the Bone is a cliché that represents how one has been cut to their core, which is the most vulnerable part of themselves. The woman and the skeleton are divided to show both parts, the strong exterior and vulnerable interior of a person. The painting itself is pop-art-esque and includes aluminum foil circles in the background, similar to two of my other pieces. Thus, it completes the series of vulnerable situations and the use of primary colors.

Hands of Comfort, acrylic and aluminum foil on canvas, 20 x 20 cm

Hands of Comfort is a piece I created after feeling that I needed to be comforted after feeling anxious. While I had a hard time finding the correct proportions for both of the people, I put my own spin on the piece itself by cutting out foil circles and gluing them to the canvas. Along with the bright reds and blue, the foil helps give the piece a special touch.

Behind the Mask, acrylic and aluminum foil on canvas, 35 cm x 28 cm

Behind the Mask represents when someone has to hide their sadness with a happy face, similar to the cliché, put on a brave face. Although someone may act happy, they may be hiding their true emotions. I did research on pop-art and facial proportions this time around. I also used brighter colors around the main subject in the piece. I really enjoyed making this piece because it was a way to express my emotions and I am familiar with the style and mediums used.

Disoriented Faces, acrylic on canvas, 22 x 30 cm

Disoriented Faces presents smiles and frowns in misshapen faces. It expresses how our happiness and frustration is manipulated by factors around us. The colors of the misshapen faces are the colors of the five flowers found in other works in my exhibition. The color of the flowers are reflected in how one never feels just one emotion, but there are factors of happiness, sadness, love, etc. that make up one’s identity.

Worn Out, acrylic and gel pen on canvas, 20 x 20 cm

Worn Out is a painting of roses, lavender, a dahlia, bellflower, and sunflower in a cube vase. Over the past year, I found myself feeling like time stopped, hence the falling petal. I felt my life wasn’t getting anywhere, nor did I feel completely out of it. This idea is represented by the different stages that each of the flowers are in. Some are thriving, while some are withering, much like my metal state over the past year.

Too Bright, acrylic and glitter on canvas, 30 x 30 cm

Too Bright was inspired by how I may feel sad, even though there are so many good things going on around me. The various bright colors and glitter are meant to represent how things may seem cheerful and exciting, but the sad face shows that those events may not make someone happy. This piece also acts as a sort of conclusion to my body work since joyful events may not bring happiness to someone.