Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Indra Persad Milowe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Indra, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
In my youth, I wanted to study art. My interest was in nature, still life and design. I adored my high school art teacher, Mrs. Helga Mohammed. She was from Madrid and married to a Trinidadian. On my first day in her class, she wrote on the blackboard: “Art is not just a painting hanging up on a wall, art is in every aspect of your daily life.” My paintings were chosen for the high school’s yearbook for two consecutive years. At age 15, I painted from nature —orchids on a branch. At age 16, I did a still life: a display of an apple, pear, and a bunch of grapes. Those two paintings and all the incredible reviews that came with them lifted my confidence in my artwork. In my adulthood, I retired from general, ophthalmic and psychiatric nursing in 2019. I had worked in England, Malta, Trinidad and the United States. Through British Nurses Overseas, I was able to work in different countries. Ultimately, I decided to go back to my first love, art! So during my retirement I decided to paint. My preferred medium is acrylic paint on canvas. I also enjoy doing outdoor public art projects. I received two grants from the City of Salem, Massachusetts, to beautify the historic district.
Most of my ideas come to me when I am lying in my bed so I keep a sketch book and pen next to it. I sketch my thoughts before putting them onto my canvas. I also do a lot of research before I start sketching. I left Trinidad at age 18 and am now 72 years old. I wanted to focus my artwork on childhood memories and growing up on a unique multicultural island. Weekends and holidays were spent at my grandparent’s house. There was a Hindu temple on their street which was the community hub. There is so much that I thought I had forgotten but the memories streamed back for my series ‘Festivals and Folklore of Trinidad, West Indies’.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For my very first painting in retirement, I thought about all the kitchens that I had cooked in. My favorite was the kitchen of my paternal grandmother (“Agee,” in Hindi). She cooked with three chulhas (outdoor clay stoves). This required a lot of skill to manipulate the pieces of wood, to keep the flame burning correctly. To become an “eligible bride,” one of the requirements was to be able to puff a paratha (flatbread), with the right texture and consistency. After mastering that skill, you are allowed to place “your handprint” on her kitchen wall. It was like a graduation! That kitchen brought up a lot of memories of different foods that were cooked for different festivals. Hence my first painting was my grandmother’s kitchen. As I began to plan out this painting, I remembered the smell of freshly made laddos (little balls of chickpeas and honey), which was a favorite dessert of ours and of Lord Ganesh. Lord Ganesh is the Remover of all Obstacles and the first Hindu deity to be worshiped in all festivals and ceremonies. Therefore, my second painting was Ganesh Chaturthi (Ganesh’s Birthday).
My Agee’s mantra was: “Eat your dahl and roti and God will make a way,”
अपनी दाल रोटी खाओ और भगवान रास्ता देगा
apanee daal rotee khao aur bhagavaan raasta dega
There is a personal story behind many of my paintings. I painted every single festival celebrated in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies, as well as all of the folklore stories that I heard while growing up.
I have traveled extensively and also have done artist residencies. This enabled me to study many cultures and beautiful places including Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Morocco, Singapore and Ubud, Bali.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Newly minted artists, just follow my three P’s: Planning, Persistence and Publicity!
Planning: I lie on my bed looking at the blank ceiling or on my sofa gazing at the blue sky, with clouds of every size and shape dancing across. From this relaxed outer view comes inner pictures that I can use for my paintings. I always have pencils and a sketchpad close by to start the project.
Persistence: I must choose forms, shapes and colors to put my inner visions onto the canvas. I constantly refine each painting as I go along. My goal is not Perfection; more like reaching a high Peak!
Publicity: What is the point of being an artist if I cannot reach out and bring pleasure, educate and even inspire the viewer. Hence I strive to get frequent press reviews in newspapers and magazines. I also love exhibitions and my paintings have been seen in public libraries and other public buildings.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
One of my role models is Frida Kahlo. During most of her short life, she suffered from severe physical disability and pain. Yet she persisted by being transparent. Her art reflects directly her thoughts and feelings, as well as her hopes and aspirations! Like Frida, I try to use my own life experience and knowledge to give meaning and beauty to my paintings.
Another of my role models is Yayoi Kusama. She has struggled for most of her long life with severe mental illness, depression and anxiety. Even while living in a psychiatric hospital in Japan, she was allowed to leave each day and walk to art studio and work before returning for care each evening! Thus, Yayoi inspires me when I am stressed out by life! Her example teaches me to keep my composure, live life to the fullest and continue to create my art!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.indrapersadmilowe.com
- Instagram: https://indra.persad.milowe
- Facebook: Indra Persad-milowe
Image Credits
George Milowe
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
