Madhubani Art: Sunanda Sahay Shares Her Journey with this Beautiful Ancient Art Form
It is an irony that an art so ancient is considered a novelty, but it is true. When I started sharing Madhubani art through demos, workshops, and interactive sessions, most people had never seen this artform. But they liked what they saw. Today’s woman dreamer, Sunanda Sahay shares her artistic journey. Growing up in the Mithila region known for its Madhubani art, Sunanda was inspired by this creative art form, and has had her work featured across Massachusetts in various galleries and Mayor Walsh’s office. An inspiring and creative soul, Sunanda shares her passion for teaching this ancient art form to the next generation, application of art in medicine, and more. Enjoy her story!
1. Tell us about your journey into the arts? What inspired your creative passion?
My career as an artist is a happy accident that came about through a sequence of unplanned events that merged three distinct life streams nearly twenty years ago.
I grew up in the Mithila region in northern Bihar, famous for its colorful Maithil culture and Madhubani art. I absorbed its cultural rites and rhythms and enjoyed the constant presence of the Mithila art, popularly known as Madhubani art. I could see that the folk artform was slowly dying – the practitioners were poor, and their children didn’t want to practice art after attending school. This art takes effort and patience, but does not assure regular income. For me too, learning the art with local artist was a matter of the heart, not the purse.
My dream was to teach literature. I had applied for my PhD and began teaching at a local college. As fate would have it, my family moved to US, I got busy raising my boys and forgot about my personal dreams and aspirations. My favorite activity with children was storytelling. Growing up, I was a bookworm and loved to read. As we all know, the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahbharata offer rich fountain of complex stories. In addition, we have a deep palette of folklore, and tales related to festivals, animals and village rituals. I remembered tales that my grandmother told me every night, and in turn I narrated and read stories to my sons.
As children grew older, life offered me a second chance—this time with Madhubani art. I loved the art, especially its ability to tell traditional stories with colorful imagery, and I also saw the opportunity to become a teacher – a three-in-one career. I was hooked, and haven’t looked back. So far I have participated in dozens of exhibits, juried shows, talks, demos, festivals, artist-in-residency, apprenticeships etc. at museums, schools, colleges, libraries, and galleries all around. For over a decade I have been teaching and sharing my knowledge with all age groups. On some occasions I have taught visiting grandmothers as well which helped them bond better with their grandkids who were also learning with me.
2. Among others, you have a particular passion for "Madhubani" art. What are the origins of this art and what draws you to it?
Though I have learned many folk and tribal artforms of North and South India, Mithila/Madhubani art is my absolute love! Its origin is said to be approximately 2,500 years back during Sita and Ram’s wedding. Sita was from Mithila and her father wanted the walls of the houses to be decorated with auspicious pictures to welcome the wedding procession (baraat) of Sri Ram. So, the style and theme originated in mural style using natural colors.
Teaching to all age groups has its own perks as I get to discuss many intricate styles, mythological stories, and symbolism behind them while letting the students have their own freedom of expression. After each class when I reflect about what we did, I think about the stories and their spiritual meanings. I feel it’s my spiritual journey with my students where they teach me as much as I teach them through the questions and discussions. The life of an artist and a teacher is one of great privilege. It mixes youthful creativity with continuous opportunity for growth and learning – that is my idea of heaven.
Recently one of my young students wanted to draw a painting of Rosa Parks. We stayed within the guidelines of the artform and created a beautiful artwork at the same time maintaining the simplicity and the message of the theme. Another student wanted to depict contrasting interests of her best friend. While she is comfortable being alone with Nature and music, her friend seeks social company by being surrounded by more friends. The art lends itself to myriad dimensions of self-expressions. While discussing, practicing and studying the art with creative minds, my passion for the art has also grown. My students also encourage me to learn about other artforms and notice how their similarities and distinctiveness. Most recently, I have started to teach the styles and techniques of the western artists as well, and that made me wonder about a fusion of the arts. One of my students tried her hands at that too, leading her to create a beautiful Buddha painting based on Rene Magritte’s “The False Mirror.”
3. Your paintings have been displayed in Mayor Walsh's office, various galleries around Massachusetts. How do you use these displays to further people's knowledge about you and your art?
It is an irony that an art so ancient is considered a novelty, but it is true. When I started sharing Madhubani art through demos, workshops, and interactive sessions, most people had never seen this artform. But they liked what they saw, and offered an expanding platform to share the art and its living connection to both historical and contemporary cultures.
I have participated extensively at several juried art shows and folk festivals like the prestigious “Lowell folk Festival”. If the Governor stops at your booth and wants to know about the art, if a senator puts your art in his office, it grabs attention and people want to know more. On occasions I have taught classes on this art at Wellesley College and other public institutions. My group exhibition at Harvard University grabbed the attention of the faculty members resulting in the extension of the show. No opportunity is small, and every opportunity brings a new challenge and teaches me something novel that I didn’t know before.
4. You have taught about the applications of art in medicine. Tell us about these applications and how they are applicable in certain medical conditions.
Traditionally, Mithila art was not a professional artform, but a social custom that allowed women in villages to sit and work together as they decorated their homes or prepared for upcoming celebrations. It offered a sense of community and belongingness and assured cultural continuity.
Because this art is dense and intricate, it fosters mindfulness – your mind is so absorbed that it does not waver even for a second. My students regularly share with me that the art begets improves focus and attention span, releases tension and anxiety, and produces a soothing and calming effect on their minds. Parents of young students tell me that the children have gotten better at Math and reading lessons. Recently, one of my adult students shared that her sleep cycle is better and more peaceful when she paints before going to bed.
Their regular feedback encouraged me to explore the application of art in medicine, especially the folk arts owning to the repetitive designs and patterns. Practice of art begets peaceful and focused attention, and also lends opportunities for self-expression. When someone is going through a trauma and unable to verbally express it, art provides an alternate medium. Study has found that art can lower feeling of pain as well. That might be the reason why hospitals have started to keep artworks in the waiting and recovery rooms. My paintings have been regularly displayed at the Cancer Center of MGH and recently at their “Art for Heart” display. I have a student with mild autism. When he started, I didn’t think he would attend classes more than a month or two. But by now it has been over two years and not only he loves it, he wants to be an artist when he grows up. That tells a lot about the art and its healing effects.
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My biggest dream is to share my knowledge and experience extensively. There is so much more in this art than “just ethnic painting”. I have been dreaming to write a book and share what I have learned so far through my experiences, talks, demos, workshops, and further explore insights I have gathered from people old and young that have joined me on this journey. I would also love to share my art experiences at the hospitals, healing center etc. Practicing this art has spiritual, meditative and healing effects that I want to learn and explore.