True Fiction Project - Season 6, Episode 1: In Conversation With Artist Rachana Devidayal

Release Date: February 18, 2025

Introduction

In the premiere episode of Season 6, True Fiction Project, host Renita Hora engages in a heartfelt and insightful conversation with artist Rachana Devidayal. This episode delves deep into Rachana's transformative journey from a seasoned graphic designer to a passionate painter, exploring how personal experiences and cultural heritage shape her artistic expression.

Rachana's Background: From Graphic Design to Fine Art

Rachana begins by sharing her extensive background in graphic design. Trained at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in the early '90s, she spent nearly three decades honing her skills in editorial design, creating books, brochures, and other visual materials. Despite her success in the graphic design realm, Rachana harbored a persistent yearning for painting—a passion she had kept subdued to honor her mother's legacy as a painter.

Rachana Devidayal (02:55): "I always had like a little soft spot, I would say, for painting and exploring the so-called fine art medium. But I stayed very clear of it because my mom's a painter. And I thought, let's keep that box for her and let me be a graphic designer."

This internal conflict between following her professional path and pursuing her true passion sets the stage for her eventual artistic rebirth.

The Catalyst: Embracing Art During the Pandemic

The turning point in Rachana's life came unexpectedly during the global lockdowns of 2021. Amid the sudden shift to online interactions, she decided to join a virtual watercolor class. However, feeling marginalized in the class led to a pivotal revelation.

Rachana Devidayal (00:54): "I just said, hey, like, what's going on here? And she said, the teacher said to me, what are you doing here? You don't need to be in a class. Please go off and paint. And that's sort of when the penny dropped... somebody had injected like a pint of confidence in my head."

This moment of affirmation shattered her self-imposed barriers, igniting her commitment to pursue painting wholeheartedly. Three years later, Rachana has immersed herself in the art world, channeling her experiences and emotions into her work.

Navigating Family Dynamics and Personal Aspirations

Renita Hora probes into the influence of Rachana's family, highlighting the creative prowess of her mother and sisters. Despite this rich artistic environment, Rachana felt compelled to carve her unique path, distancing herself from direct comparisons and expectations.

Rachana Devidayal (05:46): "Sometimes just the things that you want to do, you can't put them on hold for too long and they just catch up with you."

She candidly discusses the challenges of entering the competitive art scene at 49 and the ongoing influence of her mother's critiques. Nonetheless, her unwavering joy and determination drive her forward in this new career trajectory.

Artistic Exploration: The Narmada River as a Central Motif

Rachana's current artistic endeavors revolve around the Narmada River, a sacred and historically significant waterway in central India. Unlike the more universally recognized Ganges, the Narmada holds unique spiritual importance, symbolizing purity through mere observation rather than physical immersion.

Rachana Devidayal (07:43): "I have to explore the sacred aspects of this river through my art. And it's sort of tied in with the concept... it's a literal metaphor... being in the flow and it's the river."

Her work on the Narmada serves as both a tribute to its enduring spirit and a metaphor for her artistic journey. Rachana employs various mediums—collage, semi-digital techniques, and watercolor—to capture the river's multifaceted essence.

Symbolism and Metaphor: The River as an Artistic Journey

Rachana eloquently compares the river's unceasing flow to her own growth as an artist, emphasizing the importance of letting her work evolve organically.

Rachana Devidayal (13:20): "It's like you're the channel, and I'm just taking you flowing from source to finish."

She discusses how the river's resilience and divine feminine energy mirror her own experiences overcoming self-imposed barriers—referred to metaphorically as "dams." These internal obstacles, she explains, are necessary for personal growth and artistic development.

Rachana Devidayal (14:02): "The dam is my own self, really. And all the kind of conclusions I draw about how I want my journey as an artist to be. And this is how it should be. Those are dams..."

Featured Artworks: Visual Stories of Devotion and Ritual

Rachana describes three significant paintings inspired by rituals along the Narmada River:

1. Haunting Transformation of a Religious Ceremony (16:37):

   • Description: Depicts a nocturnal puja with swirling candles and devotees in colorful attire, later transformed into a monochromatic, haunting black and white rendition.
   • Insight: Demonstrates her ability to evoke deep emotions by altering visual elements, shifting from vibrant to somber tones to enhance the emotional impact.

2. Ritual of Rice Mounds in Maheshwar (19:01):

   • Description: Illustrates the daily ritual of preparing clay mounds with rice grains, symbolizing prayers for the town's prosperity, which are then floated down the river.
   • Insight: Combines graphical precision with profound devotion, highlighting the intersection of tradition and personal interpretation.

3. Pop-Inspired Walking Process (19:35):

   • Description: Features colorful, kitschy boats along the river, infused with elements like plastic flowers to create a vibrant, ongoing narrative.
   • Insight: Showcases her experimentation with pop art elements to infuse energy and contemporary flair into traditional subjects.

Rachana Devidayal (20:37): "It's a very divine female force... it's really a magical experience."

These works not only reflect her technical expertise but also her ability to infuse personal and cultural narratives into visual form.

Overcoming Self-Imposed Barriers: Embracing Growth and Change

Rachana delves into the concept of self-sabotage through metaphorical "dams," barriers she acknowledges but continues to overcome through increased self-awareness and perseverance.

Rachana Devidayal (15:31): "If you try a little bit and you have a minor success, the dams kind of fall apart and maybe new dams come across as you kind of progress."

Her journey is characterized by a continuous cycle of setting goals, achieving them, and confronting new challenges—each "dam" a testament to her resilience and evolving artistry.

Conclusion: Sharing Her Artistic Journey

As the episode winds down, Rachana shares insights on how listeners can engage with her work. While she keeps her current projects private until they are publicly exhibited, her previous works are available on her Instagram handle, @RachanaDeviDayal.

Rachana Devidayal (22:28): "My other work prior to this is available on my Instagram to be seen on my Instagram handle, which is my name, Rachana Devi Dal. It's my full name."

Renita Hora expresses gratitude for Rachana's openness and invites listeners to explore her captivating artworks, which embody the essence of turning real-life experiences into profound artistic expressions.

Final Thoughts

This episode of True Fiction Project masterfully intertwines Rachana Devidayal's personal narrative with her artistic endeavors, illustrating how fiction—and art—can emerge organically from the tapestry of everyday life. Rachana's story serves as an inspiring testament to embracing one's true passion, overcoming internal obstacles, and creating meaningful work that resonates with broader cultural and spiritual themes.

Connect with Rachana Devidayal:

• Instagram: @RachanaDeviDayal

For more inspiring stories and to witness how fiction is born from real experiences, subscribe to the True Fiction Project newsletter and visit www.TrueFictionProject.com.