Prolific travel experiences intertwined with her study of oil painting, Kato Rempel’s artistic trajectory is largely inspired by the land and cultures of Sri Lanka and India. Asrashaheen.in goes on an online tête-à-tête with the artist, whose recent works are an expression of strength and womanhood.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, Kato Rempel began her professional journey with a 14-year-old stint in graphic design industry at a time when the computer age was blooming. For a travel enthusiast that she is, Kato studied foreign cultures, art and architectural design in Sri Lanka. It was here that she was strongly influenced by the Bauhaus architectural movement of the early 1900s. Kato reveals that the landscapes of Sri Lanka and India inspired her artistic journey the most. As her prolific travel experiences intertwined with her study of oil painting, she eventually turned art into her career.
While her earlier works portrayed intimacy and connectedness, the narrative in her recent paintings is an expression of strength and womanhood. Kato’s latest collection with Acrylic and Charcoal on paper exemplifies this strong line and geometric influence. Many of Kato’s artworks are part of private collections worldwide, including Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, India and the United States.
Now that Covid crisis has brusquely stalled the endeavors of globetrotting enthusiasts, Asrashaheen.in goes on an online tête-à-tête with the artist, who is yearning for travel adventures. Excerpts from the interview:
Walking down the memory lane, how would you recount your tours to India? How did it all begin?
My husband got a job offer in India in 2013 for a two-year contract period. Because I was as a self-employed graphic/web designer, I was able to work from anywhere in the world. We chose India over many other countries as we thought the cultural experience in India alone would be incredible for our children and ourselves.
We were very excited on the first arrival. It was the month of January and the temperature was very moderate in Hyderabad. I remember being outdoors for dinner and having to put on a light sweater. But as the months passed by, it became unbearably hot. Some of the challenges of living in a new land were growing as we were unaccustomed to the culture and norms…
I wanted to visit all the art establishments in the city but I didn’t want to experience them alone. I realised I needed to meet people from the art community so I started a meetup called Anything Art in Hyderabad on Meetup.com. The very first meetup was very successful with nine people attending and the intent was to visit five art galleries in the city. It was an amazing experience. Some of the people who attended that first meeting remained friends throughout the two years of my stay in Hyderabad. On the first meetup, I met artist Sayyad Shaiek and collaborated with him to teach drawing to people who wanted to learn to draw in nature and at cultural buildings in the city. He partnered with me in the meetup and together we hosted 66 meetups and 8 art shows during my time in Hyderabad. It was a life-changing experience to make so many wonderful friends in an amazing country like India.
Do share the cultural experience with us.
For any artist, India is the destination. The culture, colours, people and flavours are something to experience. The country opens your eyes and expands your horizons. Every moment of living in India made me feel alive and invigorated. I honed my skills as a painter in India and what a plethora of subject matter. I was able to capture over 10,000 images of the country, people, animals and culture through my lens, which eventually ended up on canvas through my paintings.
It would also be interesting to understand how your visit to India inspired your works of art.
Even after I returned to Canada, I had India in my heart. I travelled back on several occasions and toured the country. From South to North and back again. In the 5 years that I travelled across India, I covered all the following states: Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim. Many of my paintings are inspired from my travel to these regions.
How would you compare and contrast the cultural diversity of India with that of Canada?
Canada now has a cultural diversity compared to what it had 40 years ago. We have incorporated all countries of the world in Canada. You can now eat any ethnic food from anywhere in the world. But having said that, there isn’t the long history leaping out at you from the walls when you walk down the streets anywhere in Canada like it is in India. There is a wonderment and liveliness that India has which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
How important is travel as an experience to an artist. How has the current Covid crisis impacted this experience? Also how has it impacted the business of art in your opinion?
For a traveling artist, not being able to experience the world is very debilitating. Covid has put a damper on inspiration and has made many artists like myself feel isolated and unable to really profit mentally from experiences abroad. We have had to search for inspiration here in our own world and draw from inner experiences. It is a growth opportunity but quite a challenge it can be.
Tell us something about your recent works.
As I develop as an artist, I am always pushing to try new techniques and methods that I see in paintings that I admire. During my last visit to India in 2017, we had the opportunity to travel for a month with two artists and draw and paint together during the trip. My goal was to start abstracting some of my work and I started creating a new voice. This artwork is primarily created on paper using charcoal to start and then adding water colours, acrylics and pastel pencil. It’s a process that creates a loose and invigorated feeling. Many of my new paintings are created this way.
How do you see yourself as an artist emerging from this global crisis which has impacted our lifestyles in a major way?
Being able to understand the dynamics of isolation, lack of freedom, and racism has been a wonderful opportunity for learning. I believe having the time for introspection will enable me to appreciate more aspects of life in the future. Finding more pleasure in simple living…
