Artist Thokchom Sony brings Manipur on the canvas

Manipur-based artist Thokchom Sony's paintings are dreamy water colours of beautifully garbed women with backdrops of soft pastel shades. Tattoos on the faces and arms of the women, the tall grasses and vines adorning the backdrops, and often, the elaborate Manipuri costumes and patterns speak of Sony's roots, even as the paintings show influences of Japanese manga and anime art.

Three little girls in tutus dance across one canvas (while two of the girls are the very picture of poise, the third kicks a football). Another is a picture of a bride and her two friends taking a selfie with their faces distorted into funny expressions. A tall woman in a floral dress, with high boots and a machine gun in her hand. Instead of bullets, the gun shoots flowers; a caption on the corner reads 'Shoot love, not bullets.'

Each of the artist's paintings have an underlying message of diversity, peace and women's empowerment. Sony is proudest of a painting he created for breast cancer awareness titled I Am Still Beautiful and Strong. It depicts a woman of mixed ethnicity, sporting short, spiky hair, adorned with gajra and wearing a Manipuri shawl, with tattooed stitches in the place of her breasts, which are covered in a gauzy, transparent cloth. "She is bold, beautiful and emotionally strong. In the background, one can see wild grasses, depicting the subtle beauty of the tiny, detailed creations made by Mother Nature," explains the artist. "The bunch of dandelions she's holding are releasing their seeds to spread the message for awareness of breast cancer."

A drawing and pre-production for animations film teacher at A.J.K. Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Sony admits that many of his techniques are inspired by Studio Ghibli animations and fashion. "Fashion is freedom to express who you are on the inside. It helps you push the boundaries," he says, adding, "I think some of the motifs of the Ghibli films have also inspired my work. I spend my free time watching Studio Ghibli films and documentaries about science, animals and taboos. I use a lot of wild plants and grass from home in my work, this might have some similarities with the anime studio."

A primarily a teacher, Sony also does commissioned work for weddings, exhibitions and the like."I did a solo show in Imphal in 2017. I'm planning to do a show here in Delhi by the beginning of next year," lists Sony, whose works now hang in the fresh new, posh interiors of Carter Road Social in Mumbai. Speaking of the collaboration, he explains that the owner Riyaaz Amlani, who is a friend, asked him to pick out a few pieces.

Sony's love for art dates back to his days as a toddler painting on walls. Still, he tried to give the corporate grind a shot. Dissatisfied with his job, he left in 2013, and took up teaching and painting. "For me art is a channel to release my energies and emotions, that might benefit someone as well, when they connect to the feelings," says the 29-year-old. "I'm really grateful that I could focus my energies on creating my visions and imaginations. I want my artworks to speak visually and bring a good change in the societies, little or big scale."

Learn it with love

A painting of three little ballerinas shows one of them kicking a football to connote the diversity. Another of three girls in Manipuri garb is a reminder of the artist’s own culture.  The Shoot Love No Bullets painting, which hangs on the walls of the Carter Road Social, is a message for peace