Artist’s work canvases his life experience

FOR Bendigo artist Boben Mammen every step of his life’s journey has helped form his paintings

“I was born and raised in Kerala, on India’s tropical Malabar Coast,” she said

“It was only on leaving this natural splendour that I appreciated its beauty, but even while living there I was subconsciously committing to memory the vibrant colours and forms.”

Mammen then used these images to good effect in the world of advertising, where he rose to become a much-respected designer and corporate director throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

It was not an easy journey as his parents did not encourage him in his artistic pursuits, believing that in a money-oriented Indian society, there was no money to be made in art.

However, Mammen proved them wrong, establishing his own studio and advertising agency and becoming one of only a few artists world-wide to design foreign currency, which he did for eight countries.

He experienced the full spectrum of humanity while overseas and that, along with a desire to provide a good education for his family, brought him to Australia 16 years ago.

Mammen found it difficult to settle in Australia, and his advice for would-be immigrants is “don’t think of coming to settle in another country if you are over 35!”

But his firm resolve was to search for his own destiny through building on elements of his character that he believed in.

Mammen is not a person to ever give up. With two friends he ventured into hospitality opening two restaurants on the Sunshine Coast.

On the success of those two restaurants, he was courageous enough to open his own restaurant with a gallery to exhibit local artists’ work.

Unfortunately, though the restaurant and gallery were really successful, it had to close and it was during this time that Mammen began expressing these inner conflicts in his paintings and he produced works that were evolving from sombre reflection of his past in rural India to a new life of infinite spaces in the vast wilderness of Australia.

The painter is no stranger to adversity, but this is what gives him strength to dig deep into his soul, to remember and embrace his past experiences, to create paintings that are deeply personal and are rich in texture and colour.

As well as drawing inspiration from his own life’s journey Mannen finds insights in his current employment working in disability care, as well as a number of artists who also struggled with their lives.

Artists that have influenced Mannen include Pablo Picasso whose sheer reach of his art impacted positively on Mannen, the self-inflicted exile of Gustav Klimt and how that translated into his art, and Van Gogh persisting with his art while battling his own mental issues.

“The artist who has had the greatest impact on me is Paul Gauguin who dedicated himself utterly and willingly, throwing himself into a life of struggle for his art,” Mannen said.

“His unique style, influenced by his profound spirituality, is reflected in his art.

“Each grappled with demons of their own and came close to losing everything and yet they persevered.

“Through expressing my fears, my disappointments, regrets and happiness through my art, my total outlook on life has changed.”

Every month Mannen attends the Bendigo Art Society and takes along about eight paintings he has completed.

Other members are amazed at his prodigious output, and none in the same style.

“I am overwhelmed with ideas from my past life experiences and feel blessed that I can interpretate them for others to reflect on and enjoy,” he said.

Mannen’s works are on show next year from 15 to 20 February at community gallery Dudley House located at 60 View Street Bendigo.

– BY FIONA WATSON