What is Sanctuary?
Artist’s Statement
I’m a graduating Senior with Individualized Concentrations in Mindfulness and Creativity, a self-created major designed to meet the prerequisites for a Master’s in Art Therapy. I love working with my hands and especially with themes of nature. I like challenging perfectionism on both personal and collective levels. As someone who has always been drawn to the process of art making for its therapeutic benefits, I like to create works that show “The mess” and challenge the idea of “a neat product” as the finished art piece. I believe that our volition and autonomy in life emerges from finding creative solutions to address “the cards we’ve been dealt,” so my art process also mimics this-beginning as a concept without a plan and building up to something harmonious and cohesive throughout the journey of its making. Change is the only constant and spontaneity is a gift with many treasures, so I remain open to it when I work, keeping an intention in mind, but being flexible with how that intention shows up on the page. For this project in my Zines and Self-Publishing class, we were asked to create a magic book portraying the concept of sanctuary through nature. I kept the intention of yin-yangs and the idea of balance, but created everything else “on the go.” With every work I make, I always have my own story to it, but hope that viewers will find their own meaning in it as well. Thank you for taking the time to appreciate my art!
If you liked this zine and want to see more of my works, or just connect! I love to hear from people!
@aekbeing on IG // Aekta’s Art Store on Facebook // aektaunity@yahoo.com
Aekta Bandodker (she/her), B.A in Integrative Studies, Individualized Concentrations in Mindfulness and Creativity
