A brush with Mokshini
Sharing her skills: Conducting a workshop at CFW 2017
It’s her models that immediately catch your eye. Lanky, boyish figures with comic, groovy sunglasses and spunky, untamed hair, much like their elfin creator herself. Lines and dark under-eyes are the only make up besides the quirky, sometimes thoughtful smiles.
“My work is very much about character,” explains the vivacious illustrator. She keeps a journal, but instead of words you will find drawings of her friends, of everyday faces and expressions she sees on the pavements and in subways.
Nadeesha Godamunne a.k.a. Mokshini is striking out boldly in a field where few Sri Lankans have gone before. Just 29, she already has names like Ralph Lauren, J Crew, Prabal Burung and Unilever in her portfolio. And she has big dreams – plans to transform her brand ‘Mokshini’ from an artistic pseudonym to a lifestyle brand exploring all different creative possibilities- from fashion to sculpture to art itself.
Long before the brand was thought of, fashion illustration was her chosen professional path for she grew up on an artistic diet, influenced very much by her family. “My father was a great artist and my mother loves arts and crafts,” she says. Born in Colombo, Nadeesha and her family moved to New Zealand when she was two years old. But she remembers her frequent trips to Sri Lanka. Her most vivid memories of those trips are of her paternal grandfather – an avid George Keyt fan who would share with her his passion for the artist’s work. Her parents, she says, “placed equal value on the arts as on arithmetic or English” sending the youngster who was comfortable expressing herself in a more visual way for art classes. Though Nadeesha studied whatever art courses she could literally get her hands on in high school, it was only when in university that she began to see art as a viable career path.
Studying Fashion design at the Auckland University of Technology was the first time the young artist was introduced to fashion illustration. Although she was hardworking, “I was terrible at sewing and pattern making!” she confesses. Nadeesha did however find a comfort zone in drawing and slowly became intrigued by fashion illustration, which path she would pursue for her Master’s Degree. Among the illustrators who have nurtured her style are stalwarts in the field Kenneth Paul Block and more contemporary illustrators like Jean Philippe Delhomme.
She also found herself studying satirical caricaturists from the 18th and 19th century including James Gillray and William Hogarth and old school modernist such as Egon Schiele. By the end of her stint at university, Nadeesha had found harmony between both worlds. Her graduate collection ‘Trompe L’oeil’ made up of shift dresses, with digitally printed drawn garments would win first place awards at three competitions and take the artist to Italy to showcase her work.
“These opportunities opened my mind to textile design,” she says and on the advice of her mentor, Nadeesha set to work as an illustrator, with a bold move to New York straight out of college. With fashion photography taking centre stage, Nadeesha admits that fashion illustration has long seen its golden age. But “as long as technology is here, fashion illustration will thrive,” she says with conviction adding that consumers crave the authenticity that comes with the art form.
The social media age is also one of opportunity for young illustrators, she feels. “Many of the jobs are for digital content purposes; they can virtually promote themselves for free.”
Her brand Mokshini is now up and running, and Nadeesha hopes to tap into home goods, sculpture, textiles, etc. The beginnings though were far from easy. “As an up and coming artist I think it’s vital to have a support system of people to help leverage you, market you, and pitch the correct rate you deserve,” she says. Her first job was through an agency, helping her with aspects like pricing, something she struggled with. Nadeesha still has an agent but knew she wanted to work on her own brand and her often overlooked first name Mokshini is now the artist’s label.
‘Characterful’ illustrations: A typical cafe scene (above) and (top and below) her dashing models
| She was here for CFW and will be back Back in Sri Lanka after a decade, Nadeesha got a taste of the local fashion scene with Colombo Fashion Week in March, and enjoyed sketching the collections ‘live’ from the catwalk, her trusty tools by her side and also sharing her passion with aspiring designers through workshops. “It was exciting to see our industry’s potential and the calibre of work,” she says. Next to her art, Nadeesha enjoys nothing more than passing on her knowledge and love for the craft – teaching youngsters back in New York. So the emails and response she received after her workshops at CFW were uplifting, she adds. Her entire experience in Sri Lanka for the vivacious artist was nothing short of positive, even the sweltering heat which she found ‘invigorating’ and she hopes to return at the end of the year with plans to collaborate with other artists and rediscover the country she loves so. |
Designer scarves: Nadeesha’s work for the brand Siladora