Short Background:
I am an organizational psychologist, coach and leadership consultant to global companies. I have been both a student and teacher of religion, business, psychology and leadership – all disciplines which have led me to understand the importance of creating meaning and purpose for ourselves and those around us.
During my career, I have been very fortunate to travel to many countries and work with so many talented individuals like Senthil Vel, whom I met on a global leadership programme a few years ago. I am very pleased to learn that with my encouragement – and that of many others – Senthil is pursuing his passion for art, and especially for preserving the diverse and unique art forms that comprise Indian folk art.
Art is often the manifestation of an individual’s deepest imaginings; folk art expresses the customs, beliefs and imaginings of a culture. As the world is getting smaller, there seems to be a tendency for social media generations to have more in common with their peers around the world than with their own communities and rich histories. Both connections are needed, and I believe IndianFolkArt.org is a necessary antidote to too much convergence.
At a very basic level, all people share a common semantic language of archetypes – but it is in the diversity of their expression that we establish our cultural and individual uniqueness. The wonder of art is the way in which unique expression points to some underlying universal truths. Our world needs to protect, promote and value such expression.
And at a personal level, I am thrilled to play even a small part in promoting Indian folk art. India is a country whose diversity and cacophony of sounds, smells, light and colour have successively overwhelmed, enraptured and ultimately seduced me. Perhaps working to preserve some of this is my small way of saying “namaste.”