Two major influences in Neha Sahai’s art are books and wildlife. Through these, her imagination intertwines with surrealism, creating paintings that evoke both smiles and introspection. Just as she defies the rules of realism in her art, she also rejects traditional norms in her fashion, particularly in how she wears a saree. Through her fashion and art, Sahai places self-expression at the forefront of her life—with simple silhouettes and complex emotions. We talk to her about her beginnings, surrealism, fashion and more.
What drew you towards surrealist art?
Surrealism is juxtaposition of in-depth research and experimental art. On one hand it talks about going in depth of the subject matter that intrigues the artist at the same time it forces you to study and understand your psychic and that contrast attracts me the most. My fish woman series is the result of my research on nuisance of female energy and my belief that in my previous life I was a “fish”.
Do you think your art translates into your fashion or vice-versa?
Oh absolutely! My art forced me to grow out of my comfort zone and start experimenting with sarees, sarees have always fascinated me but I never had the guts to do so more so because of the rules of wearing a saree in a PROPER way but like how I paint what fascinates and intimates me but I use the language I am most comfortable in to paint it. I like the fluidness of saree but I love the rigidness of a belt or an harness and I combine them together to develop my fashion language. Like I say I am not a rebel but I don’t play by the rules either
Tell us about your first memory of painting and how life led you to become an artist.
I always wished to live an artistic life, infact I always had, but I needed a medium to put my emotions in, I am an introvert and spending my childhood in the jungle have added to that aloofness. All my life I have conversed with the birds, the insects and the wildflowers, I don’t understand human language, so I made my own language and I painted it on the canvas.
What is it about the wildlife that attracts you?
We speak the same language!
The best part about growing up in jungles, I never felt the need to do things or to be a certain way to impress anyone, I just spoke my mind and everyone seem to be okay with being themselves, the ants, the birds, the bees, the trees, the mountains.
We ( the bird, the tree, the ant) never tried to fit in or to seek approval, we just danced, smiled and felt lucky to have each other and that's the most beautiful thing I have learned—the art of letting be! And that’s what inspires me the most in my life and in my art, to just be who you are and just let everyone else be who they are.
You are also a reader, do you think reading impacts your art and how?
The one thing that totally dictates my art is my reads!
I need books that can zone me out, I need real unpretentious words to absorb my soul in, once I am there in that zone, I paint at strech for days, I don’t go out I don’t read anything new, it’s just me and my canvases and once that series is done, I am on to my search to another good read and I distance myself from my studio so I can completely immerse myself into something new, something unknown. I am currently reading “nausea” and it’s beautiful, unapologetically true and beautiful.
Your artworks have simple but beautiful silhouettes, tell us about your artistic style and process.
I believe a good artist is the one who can convey complex emotions in simple words and simple form. The journey of an artist is to be as simplistic and as complex at the same time, simple in language and complex in emotions.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 24.06.2024