By: Rakesh Lohumi, Sr. Editor-ICN Group
From the hot desert land of Jerusalem to the cool climes of a non-descript village near Manikaran in Kullu the life of Israeli artist Kelly Mor has traversed a rather unusual trajectory. The change in physical, social and cultural environs from her native country Israel to India, her new home, has been drastic but for the good.
“I was destined to reach where I truly belonged to” she says with a sense of gratitude while underlining the role of providence in determining the course of her life.
A multi-faceted artist and photographer Kelly Mor has travelled a lot around the world but it was the mystic land of India which fascinated her on the very first visit more than 15 years ago. Apart from the rich culture , the varied landscape and warmth of the people , it was the inner feeling and the sense of belonging that made her settle down permanently in the valley of gods.
“I was fortunate to know the meaning of life at a very young age and chart my own course. My family and liberal Jewish people trusted me and gave me the freedom to live my way”, she said
Living under the shadow of fear for years she embarked on her journey to explore the world soon after completing the mandatory service with the Israel Defense Forces. “Over the years I have been moving all over and capturing the moments of life in her camera. I visited Australia, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Germany and various European countries. But the artist inside me found India most inspiring and she felt an instant connect with the land, its people and culture” she explains
Being born and brought up in Jerusalem she naturally got attracted to Rajasthan, a state full of beautiful places and rich artistic traditions. Holy cities like Varanasi, the ancient temples, the awesome Himalayan ranges and the simple life of the hill people are the everlasting sources of stimuli and motivation for her paintings, sculptures and mosaic artwork.
Kelly Mor inherited art from by her mother Carmel Mor , at master artist who was well known in the Israeli art scene. Greatly inspired by her mother she developed a passion for art as a child, growing up in a very artistic environment. She mastered the artistic techniques on her own from an early age and went on to complete her art studies at the Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.
The turning point in her life, she recalls, was her stay in Gokarna, a seaside temple town in Karnataka, where she spent her initial years in India. It was the deep influence of a Brahmin family that helped me to understand the true meaning and purpose of life. “I was encouraged by the family to pursue with art and I became known as an artist among the local people who respected my knowledge in art and supported me. I was soon teaching the children of Gokarna art and drawing,”she said while narrating her life story.
What impressed Kelly Mor most about Himachal was that the people have embraced the contemporary modern influences in keeping up with the changing times, without sacrificing or diluting their rich culture and values and they were happy leading a simple and contented life. The Himachalis were honest and took pride in their traditions, customs, fairs and festivals and passionately participated in all related events. She also finds bliss in the tiny hamlet collecting fuel wood, grazing goats and performing other routine chores in company of the local people. Part from being an accomplished artist ,she is also a good flute player .
She mostly paints in acrylic and oil colours and uses different mediums to produce contrasting textures and structures. Her works, including paintings, sculptures and mosaic items are the treasured possessions of art collector in Israel, India, Italy and other countries.
“My Goal is to create authentic Himalayan art , set up my own art gallery in Kully valley, preferably around Manali, and create awareness about aesthetics of art so that the people are able to appreciate the rich details and the emotional depth of my works”, she says while talking about her future plans.
Since most people are not in a position to buy the expensive original works, Kelly Mot has got printed posters and postcards of her paintings which everyone can purchase to display at home or present as gifts.
Right now she is excited about her upcoming exhibition entitled “The Authentic Himalayan Art”, being held from June 26 to July 2 at Naggar in Kullu in collaboration with the International Roerich Memorial Trust (IRMT). As many as 33 works of the artist depicting various aspects of life in the Himalayas will be on display.
This is her second exhibition. The first was held in October last at the same venue as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of the famous artists Nicholas Roerich.
