I am intuitively drawn to the healing spirit of earth, wind and water. It's calming and meditative aspect naturally attracts me to the softer gentler side of the colors found  in nature. 

I enjoy the process  of letting go and experimenting and discovering new techniques. 

Allowing the magical to take over from the logical mind has been an incredibly amazing journey as it very soon evolved into a series of tranquil illusionary abstract landscapes. 

I believe it is in the moments when we surrender and are in tune with nature that we enable ourselves to find fulfillment and peace in all that we do. 

I've always felt his powerful passionate inner need to create. It's a need that has always been and continues to be the driving force in my life. 

Being a part of the process of creating is a wondrous experience. I cherish every moment of it. 

Creating a painting takes me to a quieter more reflective space. I hope my work conveys this sense of calmness to the viewer.

I live in humble gratitude for all that the universe provides to us. 

Shakun

Interested in art from a very young age, Shakun used to visit the Jehangir Art Gallery located next to her school in Bombay, India to see the exhibitions of  original art by S. H. Raza, M.F. Husain, Manjit Bawa, Satish Gujral and many other Indian artists. Exposure to the early paintings of many now famous Indian artists in the home of the late Mr. E. Schlesinger, a well-known art collector, was for her an eye opening revelation in the understanding of the artist's journey. (http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?nt_sec=11&int_new=36898&int_modo=2) 

Meeting the late M. F. Husain, the internationally known barefoot Indian artist, outside the Jehangir Art Gallery as a schoolgirl made a big impression on her. And years later watching him sketch his famous muse, actress Madhuri Dixit, on the sets of a blockbuster Bollywood film that she designed costumes for was another cherished experience that inspired her to continue pursuing her dream of living her life as an artist.(http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/mfhusain/about-the-exhibition/)

Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Economics and Education and at the time largely a self-taught artist, Shakun continued to paint, visit museums and art galleries around the world to see and be inspired by the works of European masters and contemporary artists and has continued to this day to stay passionately involved in the world of art.  

Shakun has spent some of the most exciting and memorable years of her life in the creative side of the business of show business as designer, stylist and stage manager with Shiamak Davar's Institute for the Performing Arts in India. Working with the internationally known singer dancer choreographer Shiamak Davar, http://www.shiamak.com/  she designed and produced costumes, sets and props for stage, theater and television, a music video and two blockbuster Bollywood films, Dil to Pagal Hai and Taal and has worked with celebrities from the local and international music and film industry.

Since her move to Vancouver in the late nineties, Shakun met and got to know people in the arts community by working as a volunteer in organisations like the Vancouver Art Gallery, the North Vancouver Arts Council, the Silk Purse Art Gallery, the Ferry Building Gallery, Seymour Art Gallery, Deer Lake Gallery, the Harmony Arts Festival and doing hands on work helping with the setting up of installations for major art exhibitions at events like the Artropolis Exhibitions at the CBC Studios, the Vancouver Outdoor Art Festival and others. 

She has also helped paint a large wall mural at the Zazac Senior's Center and exhibited her paintings at multi-cultural and community art events like the PanAsian Heritage Show, Artropolis Adjunct Exhibition, the Saawan Mela Festival organised by the South Asian Women’s Association and the Harmony Arts Festival to name a few.  

Shakun continues to participate in juried solo and group exhibitions. Over the years she has exhibited her paintings at the Surrey Art Gallery, Seymour Art Gallery, CityScape Gallery, Ferry Building Art Gallery,  Silk Purse Art Gallery, West Vancouver Library, Bellevue Art Gallery, West Vancouver Municipal Hall, Foyer Gallery in Squamish, Kay Meek Centre, BrushStrokes Art Gallery, Canvas Gallery, CBC Studios, Yaletown Gallery, Deer Lake Gallery, Blank Tank Gallery, Hollyburn Gallery, Stewart Stephenson Modern Art Gallery and other venues across Vancouver, BC.

A regular participant in trade shows for two decades she  has exhibited her work at the Interior Design Shows in Vancouver & Toronto, Vancouver Home & Design Show, BC Home & Garden Show and ART Vancouver in Canada. Honored to be especially invited Shakun has also  exhibited her paintings in New York at the Architectural Digest Design Show 2017.  A juried selection of her paintings was shown at SCOPE Miami, Art Basel 2014.   

Shakun has been interviewed on radio, newspaper and television including the show ‘Women in Focus’. She has designed interiors and beautiful intricate Indian and modern contemporary jewellery and furniture. 'Thinking outside the box' easily defines her resourcefulness in dealing with design challenges as she continues to use her creative design skills to stage homes.      

She enjoys collaborating with designers and homeowners and creating custom commissioned bespoke artworks. Her paintings feature in private collections in India, England, Ireland, South Korea, Canada and North & South America.          

Four of her paintings are in the permanent collection of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and one  is installed at the Lynn Valley Care Centre. 

A juried selection of her work is available in the Art Rental & Sales Program at the CityScape Gallery in North Vancouver. Her paintings are often rented by movie and film production companies. 

Shakun continues to innovate and create new series of paintings.

Shakun can be reached directly:

• phone: 604 725 9179    

• email: jhangianishakun@gmail.com