All posts filed under: NORTHEAST ARTISTS

Meet the most talented artists from the NorthEast of India

Rootsandleisure-Alexa Hojai-Haflong-assam

“Refining my art with a fineliner is like fixing real-life issues. It’s truly therapeutic.” – Chat with Student and Artist Alexa Hojai from Haflong, Assam

Published by Roots & Leisure

Meet Alexa Hojai, a talented young artist from the picturesque hill station of Haflong in Assam. She is currently studying at Cotton University in Guwahati and has been doodling and making art since she was just 11 years old.  Alexa’s art is like a time machine; with every doodle and surreal sketch, she whisks you away to places and moments you thought you’d forgotten. It’s like stepping into a beautiful daydream. Her preferred canvas is the off-white watercolor paper, a choice that lends her creations an ‘ancient’ ambiance. With fineliners as her trusty companions, she brings intricate details to life, all while experimenting with the soothing and therapeutic art of painting. In her own words, Alexa beautifully encapsulates her artistic process “I sometimes mess my art with paint, and then fix them by adding details. It gives me an odd satisfaction when the messy part of the art is fixed; it’s like fixing real-life problems.” Over a chat, we journey through her hometown of Haflong, and explore her favorite art tools and mediums, her sources …

Rootsandleisure-artist-Ajanbeni

“I am What I Believe Myself to Be” – An Artist’s Perspective with Ajanbeni from Small Town Wokha, Nagaland

Published by Roots & Leisure

Allow us to introduce Ajanbeni K Yanthan, an aspiring artist from the small town of Wokha in Nagaland. Despite facing numerous challenges, Ajanbeni remains determined to pursue her artistic passion. Over a chat, Ajanbeni explained why pursuing her creative passions is more fulfilling than traditional “secure jobs.” She also shares how stays motivated and committed to her art career in the face of societal expectations. “I am what I believe myself to be,” she confides, reflecting her unwavering self-belief and refusal to be confined by limitations. Ajanbeni draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including fellow artists, different art forms, movies, music, and books. Her creative process is fueled by an insatiable appetite for inspiration and a desire to constantly evolve and grow. R&L: Hello Ajan, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Could you introduce yourself and give us a glimpse into your life as a young artist and student? Ajan: Hi R & L  I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity. My name is Ajanbeni K Yanthan from Wokha, Nagaland. I am a full-time …

Rootsandleisure_self-taught artist-sarah

“Painting Has Become My Confessional” An Interview with Self-Taught Artist Sarah from Nagaland

Published by Roots & Leisure

We recently connected with a budding artist from Nagaland, who was just starting her journey into the art world. We were intrigued to gain insight into an artist’s early experiences and thoughts, to explore their creative process in its nascent stages and discover their aspirations for the future of their art. Meet Sarah, a self-taught artist from Dimapur, Nagaland, whose earnest work caught our attention. Over a chat, we talk about her creative theme and process, the challenges that artists encounter when starting out, and her plan to explore socio-political narratives in her future artwork. She also shares how painting has become her confessional. For Sarah, every stroke on the canvas is a humble attempt to learn, accept and grow from every mistake made. R&L: To start off, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background, your hobbies etc. Sarah: My Ao (Naga) name is Temjen, but online, I often go by Sarah – a nickname lovingly given to me by my Aba. I pursued both my graduate and post-graduate studies …

Rootsandleisure_Ambush-Assam

“We Dream of a Society Free from Political Dominance by Dishonest Politicians.” – Rap Metal Band ‘AMBUSH’ from Assam

Published by Roots & Leisure

Our guests today are members of the rap metal band ‘AMBUSH’ from Karbi Anglong, Assam. We chat about their recently released track ‘Corruption Choke’ and the message they want to send out through their music. The band members Risim Rongpi (Vocal), Amarjit Bey (Guitar), Jitu Tokbi (Bass), and Deowinson Bey (Drums) have been performing together for 7 years – and counting,  and hope to keep raising powerful voices against corruption through their music. “Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development, and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division, and the environmental crisis. We have long been witnesses to social suffering as a result of political violence and domination. The invisible wounds of our people and the traumatized survivors of many terrors and conflicts keep us going. We dream of a society – and life in general, that is free from political dominance by dishonest politicians. Only then, can we improve the quality of our life.That’s what we want to convey through our music.” ~ AMBUSH, Karbi Anglong R&L: Hello! Excited to be having this chat. …

Rootsandleisure_Tune-up-channel-nagaland

‘Tune Up Channel’ from Nagaland is Back With Their New Single ‘A Letter’

Published by Roots & Leisure

“I am a HUGE Mesut Ozil fan, and the match between Germany and Northern Ireland was about to begin at 9:30 PM and I was dying to see Mesut back on the pitch. But then, my favorite band ‘Tune Up Channel’ was set to take the stage only at serial no. 13. It was already 7:00 PM and the show still hasn’t started!” ~ A fan account of the hottest band from Mokokching – ‘Tune Up Channel’  in 2016. Full article here. Fast forward to 2022. ‘Tune Up Channel’ is back with a new single ‘A Letter’ looking dapper and oh-so grown up! Don’t we all live to witness this kind of transformation of our talented friends? 🤩 The band members chat with R&L about their latest single, making the video, their journey in the last 6 years – and some fun facts about each band member. Members of the band ‘Tune Up Channel’ from Mokokchung, Nagaland R&L: Hi! Super excited to be having this chat with y’all. The last time we heard about you …

Rootsandleisure_singer_Kekhrieringa8

“This is Me at My Best With All My Flaws.” – Kekhrie Ringa from Nagaland on Her Latest Music Video ‘Made for You’

Published by Roots & Leisure

The bold, the beautiful, and the very talented singer from Nagaland – Kekhrie Ringa, is busy working on her upcoming album “Bohème” – and she just released a new video! The song is called ‘Made For You.‘ We had a quick late-night chat to get some deets behind the song and the video, and her upcoming projects. If you want to know more about Kekhrie Ringa – the person, and her beginnings, check out her interview with R&L – way back in 2017. <HERE> “I want to be 100 % honest and authentic especially when I put my music out. Every single song is a reflection of the person that I am. I don’t want to simply look like the idea of what people have about me nor the idea of the overrated perfection. As the songs and videos come in one by one, you’ll get to know me better…You may choose to embrace it or walk away …and that’s ok. And even if you, someday, end up hating me…Be kind, for Art cannot please …

Rootsandleisure_Jung Jathy

She Paints, She Crafts, and She Makes Funny Comics. Meet Jung Jathy from Nagaland

Published by Kumti

Interview by Kumti. Today’s guest is someone I have known since 2017. I met her while working on a festival project. A quiet and shy girl, and one of the most creative individuals – with excellent work ethic! She finally launched her own Insta art account called ‘Creatif by Jungjathy’ where she showcases her collection of creations – sketches in various formats, miniatures (one of my favs!), webtoons, idol/band illustrations, and more. I would like to introduce Imnajungla Jathy, or Jungjung – as most of us would like to call her. I have always been a distant admirer of her work ethic and creativity – and I, for sure would certainly trust her blindly if I needed help with any creative project. It was thus a pleasure to sit down with her today to chat about her work and more. Kumti: Hi Jung, please introduce yourself. Jung Jathy: Hi R&L fam, my name is Imnajungla Jathy, born and brought up in Kohima. An introverted extrovert who loves art, DIYs, designing, and anything arty-crafty. I am …

Rootsandleisure_resin-artist-Achila

She Turns Everyday Products Into Gorgeous Pieces of Art – Chat with Resin Artist Achila from Nagaland

Published by Kumti

2020, as we all know it, has taken a toll on all of us – and continues to restrict our life in new unexpected ways, even as we wind down another year. But today, I want to share a story about how this pandemic has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for some, as a part of our story series on ‘Covid Inspirations.‘ As I found myself in yet-another browsing sessions during the lockdowns, I came across a Youtube video of three quirky sisters from Nagaland – which I found pretty interesting. And as I dug deeper into their videos and story, I find out that one of the sisters runs a small creative corner on Instagram, called the ‘Nature Art Creativity.’  I was immediately blown away by an array of gorgeous resin art with intricate detailings made out of natural flowers, leaves, and what not! Most fascinating was the fact that all of this delicate artwork are actually things you can use in day-to-day life – like a comb, a soap case, …

RootsandLeisure_bakers from North East

Small Town Bakers from Northeast India Share Their Portfolio of Cakes and Bakes

Published by Titiksha Jain

“If baking is any labor at all, it’s a labor of love. A love that gets passed from generation to generation.” – Regina Brett Our team at R&L reached out to a bunch of bakers across Northeast India in an attempt to explore the variety of bakers out here. We met some of the most talented bakers from the region – from seasoned bakers to newbies, including a spirited 13-year-old from Arunachal! Each of them shared their favorite baking themes along with a showcase of their creations. Read on to meet this talented bunch and explore their portfolio of bakes & cakes – ranging from abstract to imitation to floral, and more.  Atele Sarah, 27, Baker behind ‘ Baked With Love’ from Nagaland ” I have been baking since 2019. I love anything floral, hence that would be my favorite baking theme. I also like creating designs that are elegant and dainty. I am not a trained baker but I am inspired by a wonderful community of talented bakers. Whenever I have a minute to …

RootsandLeisure_artist_Mhademo Shitiri

This Young Artist from Nagaland is Winning Hearts and Art Commissions With His Realistic Pencil Portraits | Meet 23-year old Mhademo Shitiri

Published by Meribeni Ngullie

“It is ok to make mistakes, but it is not ok to give up.” ~ Wise words from 23-year-old Mhademo Shitiri from Nagaland. This self-taught artist is famous for realistic portrait sketches and has a huge following of devoted admirers. Young Mhademo started drawing as a 5-year-old, and today, fans are reaching out to him from as far as Dubai and Singapore. Not only that, he is able to earn a living using his talent and passion. Over a chat, we talk about his early memories of drawing as a young boy, his supportive parents, how his school (Don Bosco, Wokha) played a role in reinforcing his confidence in choosing this path, his most memorable fan message, and more. Read on. Self-Taught Artist Mhademo Shitiri from Wokha, Nagaland Meribeni: Hi Mhademo, so excited to be having this chat. Huge fan of your work! Please introduce yourself to our R&L readers. Mhademo: I am Mhademo Shitiri, the eldest among four siblings. I hail from Old Changsu Village in Nagaland, and I was born and raised in …