The art of expressing yourself

WHAT is the most beautiful English word? ‘Mother’ answered 40,000 non-English speakers in a British Council survey across 102 countries in 2004.

I am not a mathematician but if they had asked what is the most common word used the world over in all languages the answer would in all probability be ‘NO’.
Call it culture, acceptability, or norm; we are all, almost from the moment we are born, told to conform to the rules.
So wouldn’t it be something to throw them away and do something really spontaneous for a change?
And it was this notion that led me to the spontaneous art class in Sehla, run by a very expressive, enthusiastic and most articulate Greek Cypriot artist, Manuella Mavromichalis.
I went with a notebook and pen all prepared to try and fathom the reasons why expats, Bahrainis, housewives, mothers and even stock brokers keep coming back to Manuella’s stress-busting studio in Bahrain.
Do her spontaneous art classes really relax you? Are you rid of stress? What brings you back and why? Do men come or is it open to just women? I was certainly not prepared for what happened to me next.
I was seated on a chair and read a passage on what spontaneous art is. And the next moment Manuella pointed me to her desk of colours and water and asked me to paint on a blank paper with my left hand using just my fingers.
I was sort of stunned. I don’t remember the last time I had painted. Doodling … yes … now and then, but using my left hand for writing or painting – never. I am definitely very right-handed.
Watched by four very confident co-participants, Dania, Anne, Gabrielle and Alyson, I had to take up the challenge and begin the journey to understand my inner self. The room filled with rather loud music. Strangely, it did not trouble me. I was asked to paint spontaneously.
Never get attached to any subject, object, colour, thought or emotion. Not to judge my work or give it a label.
Simply celebrate detachment.
While I began my self contemplation my newly-found friends were treated to a quote by Marianne Williamson and they began their journey of self discovery for the day.
Why do you keep coming back, I asked? They answered: “We want to escape. Forget about our routines and daily chores. We enjoy painting in this studio away from home and with friends. We love the creativity and discovery of our own talents. And yes, we love Manuella.”
Manuella says she is a ‘facilitator’ and art is the medium she uses to help people recharge their batteries. Using non-precious, friendly and non-threatening materials – clay, collage, paint, paper, canvas she teaches spontaneity.
Every group, she says, is different and every individual reacts differently to the process. And every class is dealt with differently and generally the method arrived at is also spontaneous, as per the mood of the day and group dynamics. In Manuella’s class you finish a painting and begin the next. One can continue painting or stop when you like. It is a very private affair.
You don’t need to sign your painting or show it to anyone. You need not discuss it. It is meant to be your medium of expression. Unlike what an art or colour therapist may say, symbols are different for everyone.
 Red is not necessarily for anger and white may not stand for peace. 
Every individual has her own representation of her escapism and the aim is to get the participant painting what her hand commands and go beyond the self. Manuella says all participants react differently. Some tear apart the paper. Others just cry away. Many drop out and others keep coming back. Eventually the five weeks pass … but do the participants find themselves?
The answer is as different as you are from me. The best way is to do what I did. Go and get involved. To find out more about spontaneous art and Manuella’s classes email makhlouf@batelco.com.bh

By Anasuya Kesavan
anasuyak7@gmail.com