Self-Portrait: A Reflection Of Our Deepest Memories

by | Oct 8, 2024

When we give someone a brush or pencil and ask them to paint they would usually say they can’t. Nowadays only a certain kind of perfection is considered art. I was recently part of an activity without these definitions or requirements. We gave people from age 18 to 50 a chance to reflect and rediscover their individual selves via the medium of painting.

I have been working with Innovators In Health (India) for the last 6 months. The organisation works in providing end to end care to persons with TB (PwTB).

Recently, our team organised a retreat workshop in Mirik, West Bengal. The aim was to reflect, recharge and learn from each other through various collaborative and team building activities. Self-portrait was one such activity that focused on individuals to explore and express their deepest desires. 

Let’s look at how the activity evolved in three stages via pictures.

Shapes That Make Up the World

One person is hunched over so only a small part of the back of their head is in the frame. They are painting something on a white sheet. To their right is another such sheet with coloured sketches.
“I saw my conscious very minutely which I never did before doing this activity. I realised how shapes make up everything in the world around us”
A man smiles and shows his paper on which he has sketched a few things. The frame is a close up from his right side.
Love triangle of square, circle and wires
Picture has been taken from upper left angle so a person's head and blue shirt is in the frame. They are sketching shapes. Another person sits across them and is also sketching something. There are newspapers strewn on the table the two are using.
One thing that everyone drew in childhood- mountains, rives with possibility of sunshine

A Rainbow of Colours

A man shows spots of different colours he has painted on a white sheet. In the background is another man who is fully in the frame, and some other people painting.
the many hues of my life
A woman smiles and shows two rows of coloured spots she has painted and named. Behind her is another man who has both his hands raised. Both the people have a rounded table covered with newspaper in front of them. The woman has turned right from the table to show her white sheet.
see my colours
Multiple people show the coloured spots they have painted on their white sheet. They appear to be happy.
everyone has got their unique colours

Self-portrait: Painting the Language of my Dreams

Shot from upper right angle, it depicts a person in the midst of painting their self-portrait.
Work in progress
A self-portrait with light red face, dark brown hair, and big eyes on a yellowed background.
I have got big beautiful eyes
The frame has a portrait. A white round face with myriad of colours around it.
This is how I look, and you will admire me
A man proudly and happily shows his self-portrait. He is wearing a half white shirt and the portrait is to his right. His portrait is in the centre going all the way down, and there are spots of different colours around the portrait.
Look at my pretty face!
A woman displays a self-portrait. She's smiling and wearing a light orange saree. The portrait is to her right. The sheet is painted yellow with birds and a blue spot. The portrait is of a girl with two braids and a pink face.
I, me & myself

These pictures don’t do justice to the sharing the people did. The sharing was a rollercoaster of emotions. Everyone involved in the process went through many emotions.

Colours define our lives but due to the demands of daily life we forget to stop and observe the world around us. It’s interesting that as adults we forget the colours and shapes that define our childhood. For the longest time I can remember I was and still continue to be fascinated with art.

The definition of art used to be perfection for me which makes sense and is an exact replica of something very real. It started to change a few years ago but somewhere I still strive for perfection. Recently it changed completely and now I have come to realise there is beauty in imperfection as long as it makes sense to the person.

Because imagination is vivid and unrestricted where sky can be pink and grass can be blue. 

हुनर और घबराहट

हुनर और घबराहट

हुनर एक ऐसा अनमोल गुण है, जो हर कलाकार के अंदर छिपा होता है, लेकिन मंच पर खड़े...

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