In Conversation: Batik artist Maria Clara talks about art, life, and her passions

Hyderabad: Maria Clara is an acclaimed Batik and Kalamkari artist from Hyderabad who celebrates life through her art. Her solo batik exhibition, “The Vigil,” opened to an impressive response at the state Gallery of Arts and concluded on 9 February.

Maria quit her corporate job and settled for a full-time career as an artist, responding to nature’s calling and her passion to create something unique.

Her Batik depictions bear her stamp of sublime expressions, such as ‘King-David’ in which a king is seen jubilantly playing the harp and singing to its tunes. She used wax and a wide range of colours to create the works, which took four days to complete. She also conducts workshops for schoolchildren and visits orphanages and women’s organisations.

In conversation with NewsMeter, here is what she had to say about art, life, and her passions.

NewsMeter: What is Batik art?

Maria Clara: Batik is a form of art done on fabric, where wax is used to draw the outlines, and it is also a resistance to colour. I use the tjanting pen to draw fine lines and a brush for thicker lines for drawing with wax. So, when the fabric is dipped in colour, the wax crackles, and the colour seeps in, giving the fabric a cracked effect.

NM: What is Kalamkari art?

Maria Clara: Pen Kalamkari is a form of art where the fabric is prepared by soaking it in myrobalan powder and milk. Then the outlines and details are done with Kasim (black colour obtained from fermenting black jaggery and iron rust in a pot for 21 days) then sun-dried and washed under running water. The colours are obtained from natural leaves, flowers, and roots.

NM: What inspires you to create art?

Maria Clara: I love to tell my experiences of God’s goodness. I feel art is a very visual way to express it and express yourself and inspire others through the clothes you wear and paintings.‘Qalambatik by Maria Clara’ makes custom designs on fabric with these two art forms.

NM: Why did you choose this form of art?

Maria Clara: I have worked on oil, acrylic on canvas, and woodcuts too. Batik is dear to me as I relate it to life. The places we are challenged more, broken, or hurt when healed add gentleness, wisdom, and understanding to life. Just the way the cracks make the batik beautiful.

NM: What was the inspiration behind ‘The Vigil’?

Maria Clara: Covid was my inspiration. I had taken so many things which God created for granted—the air I breathe, the warmth of the sun, and the fragrance of flowers, to name a few. Since the time God called us into existence, all of His creation shows up every day 24x7, 365 days. It is the creation of Vigil/Jaagran for its Creator.

NM: What made you quit corporate life and become a full-time artist?

Maria Clara: Again, Covid. I realised the length of my days is not in my control and I have so much to give back. With work it was difficult, so I chose to keep the artist alive.