Artists

A Day in The Life of Nikeeta Lakhiani

Nikeeta Lakhiani is a young Indonesian artist who has recently arrived on Singulart. This week we had the opportunity to discuss her daily life and what inspires her.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to start with a ten-minute meditation. I find that this keeps me centred and ready to take on what the day might throw at me. If I skip meditation, I can sometimes feel out of balance and this affects my work and paintings.

What inspires you to create every day?

I am deeply inspired by the nature that surrounds me here in Bali, Indonesia. From the colours and lush vegetation to the shapes, textures and pattern. The innate beauty of things that are natural and in harmony.

What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is a good mix of tidy and chaos. The area where I paint is chaotic with paints and brushes scattered everywhere on the ground. This provides a space for me to want to jump in and immediately let loose and start creating. Almost like the left side of my brain.

On the other side, my desk area where I work on my laptop and do other ‘business’ related work is extremely tidy and allows me to think and engage my right brain hemisphere.

Can you describe the core of your technique or style?

My technique is very process-oriented. I love exploring different mediums and how they work together for me to best express myself. Mixed media along with gestural strokes, layers and harmonious colour combinations are at the core of my style.

What are your top 3 studio essentials?

Apart from paints, a Japanese Sumi-e brush, sponge, and scraper.

How do you know or decide when an artwork is finished?

It’s a pretty instinctual process for me. I have to be happy with the final result. I always ask myself, would I like to keep this artwork for myself? If it’s yes, then I know that I am pretty happy with it. If the answer is no, then I have to search the issues and try to fix them until I come to a point of satisfaction.

What do you like to do to unwind after a day’s work?

After work, I enjoy doing a pilates workout followed by a bath and ending it with another 20-minute meditation.

What’s your favourite aspect of the creative process?

My favourite aspect of being creative is that it doesn’t deplete me of energy but instead re-energizes me. It makes me want to show up every day to keep creating. In a lot of ways it also keeps me sane. In hard times, like the year 2020, having a creative outlet has been my biggest salvation.