34 Gallery Artist: Dr. Saravanan Thangarajan

"Grief has left a profound mark on my mental health, shaking me to my core in ways I never anticipated. Losing loved ones so close together felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me, leaving me emotionally raw and vulnerable. Some days, it felt like I was drowning in sadness; other days, I felt completely numb, unable to process the weight of it all. It impacted every part of me—my focus, my motivation, and even my sense of purpose. 

But amidst the darkness, I found solace in creative expression. Art and writing became outlets for the emotions I couldn’t articulate, giving me a way to release what I was holding inside. Grief has been a relentless teacher, showing me that it’s not something you ever “move on” from. Instead, you carry it with you, slowly learning to weave it into your life while finding moments of healing along the way. "

“Creative expression transforms the silent whispers of the mind into a vibrant dialogue of colors, each hue a word, each shade a sentence in the story of self. It's a practice where emotions are honored, understood, and shaped into art, providing both a shield and a showcase for the intricacies of mental well-being. 

This artwork, with its spectrum-splashed halo, is a testament to the healing power of art—a visual symphony that resonates with the soul’s silent music. The Arts are a universal whisper of our shared humanity, a bridge between the seen and the unseen within us. They are the pulse in our collective heartbeat, vital for navigating the complexities of emotion and experience. 

Through the Arts, we find the courage to reveal our vulnerabilities and the strength to celebrate our individualities. They matter to me as the breath of creativity that infuses life with meaning, color, and connection."