ANCESTRY HUMANITY SPIRITUALITY
ARTIST YOGINI SINGER AUTHOR
Renée Chatlani - She Teaches Me
My Mama – my infinite teacher of art. Since her passing in October 2021, My brother and I collated all Mama’s artwork, sifted through her various portfolios, and discovered many art works we had never seen before. I then cleared her home, and most of the paintings come back to my home or to my brother Ram’s home. Over time, as I navigated the intense grieving process, I was fascinated, and astonished at Renée’s talent, precision, detail, colour palettes, her eclectic portfolio of so many varied subjects. Yet growing up surrounded by Mama’s art, it became “part of the furnishings”, with no great attention being given to them. It was only when I began painting seriously in July 2017, that I realised what an amazing talent and gifted artist she was, and how challenging drawing and painting is.
Over the last year, my “model of mourning” has manifested in curating all her artwork into portfolios, then onto my website. This has been a humungous task – consisting of digitally photographing Renée’s original non-digital photos of all the pieces she had sold – rough count – around 400-450, uploading, cropping, resizing, categorizing, cataloguing, searching for owners of some of her work to get photos, measuring, pricing , and more – and yes the shop is now here!!
One of the sketches we found fascinated me. Where did these ideas come from? I was inspired to paint my impression and version of this in oils. This began a journey into my own grieving process, as this first painting morphed into a series of 12, called “The New Path“.
On the left is Renée’s sketch mentioned above .
Here is “Nous Deux” by Mohini
I am now led from within, initailly to “copy” some of Mama’s paintings. I now see from the first attempt that mine is not so much a copy, as my impression or version of hers.
Enter The Teacher : when I look at these two paintings side by side, I see my errors, in visual perception, spacial awareness of the subjects the landscape, colour, perspective, distance, precision and maybe more. This is a very exciting discovery : the teacher comes to me in the presence of my beloved Mama, from the heavenly realms, to instruct me, and to help me move from the internal expression of grief, to the external expression of mourning.
Thank you SO much dear Mama.
Left/2nd – “Workers Break”, by Renée SOLD
Right/2nd “Workers Break” by Mohini
Legacy & Lineage
Introduction
Legacy & Lineage is the foundation of my artistic world — a living thread that connects my mother’s extraordinary and eclectic body of work to my own contemporary practice. This page honours her vast creative portfolio , my creative inheritance, the cultural and spiritual lineages that shape my vision, and the generational dialogue that continues to unfold through every piece I create.
My Mother’s Artistic Legacy
My mother was an artist of remarkable range, depth, and sensitivity. Her portfolio spanned decades — from the 1950s onwards — and encompassed multiple mediums, styles, and artistic disciplines. Her early pencil drawings and charcoal works were my first experience of art as a living, breathing presence. Her work was not confined to one genre; it was an evolving, exploratory, and deeply expressive journey. Her mark‑making carried emotional depth, quiet intensity, and a refined simplicity that shaped my earliest understanding of form and shadow.
Her Eclectic Portfolio
Early Drawings (1950s onwards)
Foundational studies that revealed her innate sensitivity to form, proportion, and emotional nuance.
Portraiture
She was an exceptional portraitist, known for capturing striking likenesses with emotional truth and precision.
Landscapes
Atmospheric scenes that reflected her connection to nature and her ability to translate mood into visual form.
Master Copies (Renoir, Tissot, and others)
She was an outstanding copyist of the great masters, recreating works with technical excellence and deep respect for the originals.
Charcoal Abstract Works
Explorations of movement, shadow, and expressive mark‑making — pieces that later became a profound influence on my own practice.
Watercolours
Delicate, fluid works that showcased her versatility and sensitivity to light and tone.
Her artistic legacy is vast, diverse, and deeply inspiring. It forms the bedrock of my creative identity.
Ancestral Lineage
My practice is also shaped by the cultural and spiritual traditions of my heritage. These influences are not decorative; they are integral to the emotional and symbolic language of my work
Armenian/Egyptian Heritage
- Fayum portrait traditions
- Nile landscapes and ancient colour palettes
- Ancestral memory and symbolic storytelling
Indian Heritage
- Mythic symbolism of Shiva and Shakti
- Themes of duality, union, and spiritual awakening
- Sacred imagery and contemplative stillness
These lineages form a bridge between past and present, shaping the deeper layers of my artistic voice.
Artistic Inheritance
My mother’s legacy, her eclectic portfolio and my ancestral heritage come together in my contemporary practice. Each piece I create is informed by:
- The emotional truth of charcoal
- The expressive range of oil and watercolour
- The precision and sensitivity of portraiture
- The contemplative stillness of ancient traditions
- The mythic resonance of spiritual symbolism
This inheritance is dynamic — it evolves with every artwork, every gesture, every moment of creative clarity.
Contemporary Practice
My work today explores the meeting point of memory, heritage, and inner awakening. I create pieces that feel like thresholds — places where silence becomes form and where the viewer can enter a moment of reflection.
Themes in My Work
- Lineage and identity
- Memory and transformation
- Spiritual symbolism
- Emotional stillness
- Generational dialogue
My practice is a continuation of the legacy I inherited, shaped by my own voice and vision.
Summary
Legacy & Lineage is the story of where my art comes from — a story rooted in my mother’s extraordinary and eclectic portfolio, my cultural heritage, and the spiritual traditions that guide my work. This page honours the past while illuminating the path forward, offering a deeper understanding of the creative forces that shape my practice.
Legacy & Lineage
Introduction
Legacy & Lineage is the foundation of my artistic world — a living thread that connects my mother’s extraordinary and eclectic body of work to my own contemporary practice. This page honours her vast creative portfolio , my creative inheritance, the cultural and spiritual lineages that shape my vision, and the generational dialogue that continues to unfold through every piece I create.
My Mother’s Artistic Legacy
My mother was an artist of remarkable range, depth, and sensitivity. Her portfolio spanned decades — from the 1950s onwards — and encompassed multiple mediums, styles, and artistic disciplines. Her early pencil drawings and charcoal works were my first experience of art as a living, breathing presence. Her work was not confined to one genre; it was an evolving, exploratory, and deeply expressive journey. Her mark‑making carried emotional depth, quiet intensity, and a refined simplicity that shaped my earliest understanding of form and shadow.
Her Eclectic Portfolio
Early Drawings (1950s onwards)
Foundational studies that revealed her innate sensitivity to form, proportion, and emotional nuance.
Portraiture
She was an exceptional portraitist, known for capturing striking likenesses with emotional truth and precision.
Landscapes
Atmospheric scenes that reflected her connection to nature and her ability to translate mood into visual form.
Master Copies (Renoir, Tissot, and others)
She was an outstanding copyist of the great masters, recreating works with technical excellence and deep respect for the originals.
Charcoal Abstract Works
Explorations of movement, shadow, and expressive mark‑making — pieces that later became a profound influence on my own practice.
Watercolours
Delicate, fluid works that showcased her versatility and sensitivity to light and tone.
Her artistic legacy is vast, diverse, and deeply inspiring. It forms the bedrock of my creative identity.
Ancestral Lineage
My practice is also shaped by the cultural and spiritual traditions of my heritage. These influences are not decorative; they are integral to the emotional and symbolic language of my work
Armenian/Egyptian Heritage
- Fayum portrait traditions
- Nile landscapes and ancient colour palettes
- Ancestral memory and symbolic storytelling
Indian Heritage
- Mythic symbolism of Shiva and Shakti
- Themes of duality, union, and spiritual awakening
- Sacred imagery and contemplative stillness
These lineages form a bridge between past and present, shaping the deeper layers of my artistic voice.
Artistic Inheritance
My mother’s legacy, her eclectic portfolio and my ancestral heritage come together in my contemporary practice. Each piece I create is informed by:
- The emotional truth of charcoal
- The expressive range of oil and watercolour
- The precision and sensitivity of portraiture
- The contemplative stillness of ancient traditions
- The mythic resonance of spiritual symbolism
This inheritance is dynamic — it evolves with every artwork, every gesture, every moment of creative clarity.
Contemporary Practice
My work today explores the meeting point of memory, heritage, and inner awakening. I create pieces that feel like thresholds — places where silence becomes form and where the viewer can enter a moment of reflection.
Themes in My Work
- Lineage and identity
- Memory and transformation
- Spiritual symbolism
- Emotional stillness
- Generational dialogue
My practice is a continuation of the legacy I inherited, shaped by my own voice and vision.
Summary
Legacy & Lineage is the story of where my art comes from — a story rooted in my mother’s extraordinary and eclectic portfolio, my cultural heritage, and the spiritual traditions that guide my work. This page honours the past while illuminating the path forward, offering a deeper understanding of the creative forces that shape my practice.