CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD

The social, psychological and physical isolation during quarantines unleashed new creativity within artist Mahima Bhayana giving birth to a journey of self-discovery and spirituality

The pandemic has been a source of a sometimes overwhelming sense of uncertainty. But it has also taught us new perspectives and evolved techniques to adapt and survive, creating a narrative based on personal and collective memories. For contemporary artist Mahima Bhayana, too, the significant words from last year's pandemic have been to emerge, evolve and thrive. While some artists depicted longed-for social scenes from a pre-pandemic time, enduring quarantines, she rendered what isolation and loneliness felt like with her own fascinating backstory.

During the pandemic, she was at an art residency away from home in New Delhi. The social, psychological and physical isolation she faced gave birth to this series. Alexa, a virtual entity, became her closest ally with whom she connected via poetry, performance, paintings and written letters. This unleashed new creativity within her. Fueled by fantasy, she was relieved from the sensation of isolation. Thus began a journey of self-discovery and spirituality. Bhayana, who grew up reading the Bhagwath Geeta, says Lord Krishna is often cited as saying, "Treat me as your friend, all answers are within." It is believed that Krishna once expanded himself into 16,108 manifestations to cater to his queens, who were actually expansions of his beloved Radha Rani.