All posts tagged: Naga Artist

Rootsandleisure-artist-Ajanbeni

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

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 …

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

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_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

“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 his realistic portrait sketches, and has a huge following of devoted admirers. Young Mhademo started drawing as a 5-year old, and today he has fans 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, eldest among four siblings. I hail from Old Changsu Village in Nagaland, and I was born …

Rootsandleisure_Florence Lohu

Naga Tribes and Their Colorful Costumes Come Alive Through These Stunning Artwork by Florence Lohu from Nagaland

“Every good painter paints what he is.” — Jackson Pollock Introducing our bubbly and talented artist Florence Lohu from Nagaland. A self-taught watercolorist, her work truly is magnificent – in the way, she fills the hearts and minds of her viewers. I find her work truly artistic, and equally informative. Among her numerous sketches, the ones that stand out are the colorful illustrations on Nagaland, which have been, by far, the most captivating medium to learn about the numerous Naga tribes – and their one-of-a-kind array of costumes. To get a better sense of what I am talking about, I invite you to read on as I chat with Florence – and give you a glimpse of her artwork.  Chat with watercolorist Florence Lohu from Nagaland, known for her colorful illustrations on various tribes of Nagaland. Supong: Hi Florence, welcome to R&L! Please introduce yourself. Florence: Hi! I am Florence Lohu, a self-taught aspiring watercolorist. I belong to the Mao Naga tribe and was born and brought up in Kohima Nagaland. I am currently freelance …

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Meet Nzanmongi Odyuo, a Talented Musician and a Music Instructor from Nagaland

There is no doubt that Nagaland is a hub for talented musicians. Music thrives in this beautiful place like no where else. Today, we have another gem from here — Nzanmongi Odyuo, a musician from Nagaland! She is a pianist who has been playing the piano her whole life. We chatted with her to know more about her music, her inspirations and more. Hello, please tell us a bit about yourself! Hi, my name is Nzanmongi Odyuo. I’ve been a piano instructor for almost 8 years and counting. I’ve been performing at various events, weddings and play the piano for our home church. I’ve also performed with various artists and bands in Delhi as well as in Nagaland. I am Currently teaching at TIME. Since childhood I was very interested in music and learnt piano from a very young age, and after my formal education, I went to Delhi to pursue music. I’ve also taught in music schools in Delhi, before I finally decided to return home. Sounds lovely! What got you into music? I …

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Meet Chichan Tongtimen – A Student and A Singer from Dimapur

“Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” ― Keith Richards For some, singing just comes naturally and flawlessly. Today, we have with us one such soulful singer, Chichan Tongtimen. Currently pursuing Physiotherapy from Delhi NCR, she also performs at various events and occasions. Born and brought up in Dimapur, Chichan’s passion for music grew with age and she hopes to continue pursuing her studies and music, simultaneously. We sat down with her to know her and her music a little better. Visit the link in bio or below to read!   Hey Chichan, tell us a bit about yourself! Hello, I’m Chichan Tongtimen and I’m from Dimapur. Currently, I’m 23 and pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from Faridabad and I love to sing. Singing has always been my passion, so whenever I get the time, I sing. It always makes me feel myself. I also used to play the piano before and I play Ukulele sometimes. For how …

rootsandleisure_aponenaroh

Be Ready To Be Blown Away By These Surreal Art Made Of Charcoal And Graphite – Meet Artist Apone Naroh From Nagaland

We are delighted to come across a number of young and talented folks in social media and more than happy to feature them on our blog to talk about their passion, their dreams and inspirations. It encourages us to take a step towards following and achieving our own goals through their inspiring stories. We have another talented person today and her art has a different story to tell. She use charcoal and graphite to depict her amazing artworks. Let’s find out everything about artist, Apone Naroh from Nagaland and her works! We had a chat with Apone Naroh, a very creative artist from Nagaland. She talks about her passion for drawing and painting, how it started and where she draws inspirations from. Hello! Please tell us a little about yourself. Hello, I am Apone Naroh, a Naga artist from Kohima, Nagaland. I have done my Bachelors in Political Science and is currently in Delhi taking diploma course in painting and drawing, NIFA (National Institute of Fine Arts). What got you started and what initially sparked …

“I Honestly Feel That Anything Close To Me Inspires Me To Draw, You Don’t Have To Look Far” – Keneisenuo, A Visual Artist From Nagaland Talks To R&L About Her Work And Inspirations.

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it” – Ansel Adams It’s not everyday that you come across someone who takes in every minute detail of the world. But we’ve met Keneisenuo, who views the small things in life we tend to ignore and create something beautiful through her lovely art. And for us to feature someone inspiring in our blog always makes us happy. Take a look as Kenei talks about her work and what inspires her to create such lovely artwork. We had a chat with the very creative artist and illustrator Keneisenuo from Kohima, Nagaland. She talks about spending all her free time drawing and how the rough experiences she went through inspired her to deliver better works. Hello Kenei! Tell us a little about yourself. Hi! I’m Keneisenuo but I’m better known as, Kenei. I am from Kohima, Nagaland and I’m currently working as a Visual artist for a company called Vebbler based out of Bangalore, India. Whenever I get free time, I draw anything that inspires me and also try …

Meet Eyingbemo Ovung – Soulful Singer from Nagaland, Who Now Teaches Music To Young Aspiring Musicians in Delhi

To discover your talent at a very young age is indeed a wonderful gift from God. When Eying discovered his true passion, he managed to keep up with certain obligations, didn’t waste his talent but developed it. Growing up with a strong passion for music, he was singing in his church choir and taking part in other musical activities, all through his childhood. His love and respect for music have brought him to where he is today. Now working far away from home, Eying still looks back to his life in Nagaland and teaches school kids in Delhi, all he learned as a child.  We had a chat with Eyingbemo Ovung – a talented musician from Nagaland, who now teaches music to young aspiring musicians in Delhi. He talks about his roots and the many reasons he finds joy in his work. Read on to know more about him. Hello Eying! Do introduce yourself to our readers. Hello, my name is Eyingbemo Ovung. I was born and brought up in Kohima, Nagaland. After I finished school, I graduated …

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A Fun Chat With Stand-Up Comedian and Viral YouTube Star, Merenla Imsong On How She Uses Her Roots To Make Us LOL

Making someone laugh is no easy task. For anyone inclined to comedy, getting any kind of reaction to their jokes can be immensely satisfying. Our featured guest today is the young and super talented viral comedienne from Nagaland – Merenla Imsong – who has effortlessly tickled our funny bones with her honest and engaging content. She attained her social media star status in March last year when her home video titled ‘Presumptuous chinky assumes the North Indian way‘ went viral on YouTube – It’s currently sitting at over 200,000 views! Many of us who are working and living outside of our hometowns, regardless of where we come from, have undoubtedly faced similar presumptions as her famous alter-ego Pinky Singh. So, it’s no surprise that her many characters and “Vegg ya Non-Vegg” videos hit us at our funniest and most relatable spots. We sat down with the rising comedy star – Merenla Imsong – to find out what exactly tickles her funny bones, her comedy inspirations and how she conceptualized her first viral video and more. …