Torn Canvas: Pieces of my life

Having started to talk about the Art works,  I’d like to share some of my personal history- key events that shaped the way my life has evolved.  I’ve used some of the art work to illustrate the mood.

Racial Violence in Sri Lanka (my Country of origin)

This has played a major role in shaping not just mine, but several hundred thousand Tamil people!  It’s an age old issue of seeking more independence hat stems from 1979 to modern day, where Tamil people have been so persecuted by Sinhalese people and the government army, that Tamils have had to take up arms and fight a guerilla war! (You may have heard of the `Tamil Tigers’ ).  Our family was one that got caught up in all that, and we eventually came to the Uk in fear of our lives.  We were the lucky ones, for many thousand Tamils have been killed since 1985.

A personal attack on me -(the personal disability begins).

A day light mugging after school, at the age of 17yrs colored the way I began to see the world around me in London- something I had thought was going to be better than Sri Lanka. The attack on me broke my right shoulder, and though it healed, it has become a recurring physical problem (not to mention getting mugged again few years ago in a bus and getting my right shoulder dislocated for the 4th time!). It prevents me from doing contact sports, but has squeezed me into other paths- such as aerobics, fitness, walking, exploring the country, mind-powers (when the body fails) and so on.

Death of my father ( Scars that go deep..)

Few days after the new year of 1990 also changed my life in a big way. It is in one sense equivalent to a naive crown prince being thrust onto the throne and expected to rule the kingdom (family & cultural responsibilities of asian male!) But on the other hand, it was also very much a door of darkness opening beneath my feet and falling into a chasm of delayed psychological trauma! I believe it took a few years before the full force of his sudden death hit me- which spun me into an exploration of death, brain, mind, and transformation. It saw me become faith-less, and rise again with pagan spirituality empowering me and enlightening me with some mysteries.

Paganism & Ritual Magic (From darkness into Light, and from weakness to power)

This is a spiritual path of empowerment that includes nature worship. No middleman is needed between me and the god  or goddess! This spirituality is nothing new to me- as it has highly similar facets to Hinduism that I was brought up with (which after all is an eastern form of paganism). However there are differences- the lack of physically built temples, the strong emphasis on lunar & solar cycles, the exploration of natural land and features all around us as a place of divine- all help very much to empower me! Not just that, even the Stars out there, and galaxies, and exploding Supernovae and black holes.. are all of the mysteries.. that I am fascinated by as a Scientist, admire as an artist, and worship and honor as a Pagan!

-Mani

Artist-Writer-Magician-Scientist