Biography
Biography
Born into a culturally diverse family of mix Anglo Australian and Malaysia Indian descent. Shobana was born in Malaysia, but was raised primarily in rural NSW, Australia. Her artistic journey was birthed in her early adult years while studying Economics and Public Relations in Canberra. She found herself painting (oil on canvas) into the early hours of the morning to relieve the stresses of living out of home, whilst working and studying full time. The late nights unlocked something that she hadn’t had the chance of exploring in her childhood, her gift of creative expression.
On marrying her husband in 2012 she left her academic pursuits to pursue a career in professional photography (still to this day) with her husband. On this journey of professional creativity, international opportunities opened through their work to travel. This awoke new and exciting inspirations and pushed Shobana’s artistic desire to pursue a more focused approached to her canvas work. Initially working on oil and canvas as a medium, she shifted to ink work on paper, through introduction by a close friend and accomplished artist (kiasmin.com). This medium was not only exciting but far more practical with her itinerate working life, while raising two young boys.
Process
Shobana is inspired by the exposure to her multi cultural upbringing, her spiritually deep Christian faith and is fuelled by her strong desire to live in wonder. Her combined Indian Malaysian and Australian heritage gives her a freedom to explore colour and form in ways that come innately. Her freedoms are distinct and without question a key part of her dynamic and unique approach to her aesthetic.
She plays with mixing both the fluidity and translucent qualities of inks on paper with the harsher and established presence of gel ink, paint markers, gold leaf, pencils and pastels. Her compositions are layered, mixing materials to bring depth while also creating a lightness to the work that almost floats above the paper itself. Although she has already formed a unique visual voice with distinctive shaping, colour and form, her work continues to naturally evolve.