On the 18th October, Singapore artist Lakshmi Mohanbabu shone in her solo exhibition, ALTERED STATES. The exhibition featured her new body of work, SMOKE SCREEN.
Artwork from Lakshmi’s earlier series was also on display including pieces from her jewellery, fashion accessories and home decor lines.
Altered States: A Solo Exhibition by Lakshmi Mohanbabu
About 'Smoke Screen'
“There exists a contradiction between who we are and what we reveal, ‘expressed emotions’ and ‘suppressed emotions’. Our innermost feelings are kept in check and masked. We either reflect responses that are expected from the world or we cultivate emotions to elicit the right responses from people around us."
“People who act on their primary impulses or who express every emotion they feel would be viewed as unintelligent with under-developed mental processes justifying the need for our individual smoke screens."
“Emotions are subject to motivation and temperament and often have a positive and a negative aspect such as joy and sorrow; love and hate etc. Emotions may also have roots in cultural conditioning or fulfil the desire to be perceived a certain way in society establishing ones status and an endless array of permutations and combinations leading to a gamut of complex and constrained emotions intertwined with mood, temperament, personality, disposition, and motivation."
“This series depicts the inner hidden spectrum of colourful emotions screaming and desperate to be revealed, yet hidden by that smoke screen.” ~ Lakshmi Mohanbabu
About Lakshmi Mohanbabu
The visual artist of many mediums, Lakshmi Mohanbabu, has many faces. She is Singaporean but she grew up in Afghanistan. Her heritage is partly Indian but she has lived in Europe and Asia. She’s based on the Little Red Dot but her work transcends boundaries. She is an artist but she’s also an architect, fashion designer, teacher, jewellery designer and sculptor. She loves to work in pen and ink but she’s equally comfortable with acrylics, water colours and 3D design. Her work takes on complicated social issues and emotions but is very easy to understand, not to mention exciting to view.
Ultimately, Lakshmi is a dichotomy, a series of contradictions, and a whole lot of talent wrapped into one.
Click here to see Lakshmi's artwork.