The Paintings I Bring Back Home Speak to Me

And tell my stories

I recently read about it on social media and reached a self-diagnosis of a condition that I suffer from called Notriphobia.

Do you get it?

No-trip-phobia — the fear of not having any trips booked. :)

I have been collecting souvenirs from my travels since I was 7 years old. Thanks to my father who planted the travel bug in me, we used to collect pamphlets, flyers, postcards, and tickets. Nothing too fancy but those piled up pretty quickly in my parents’ disorganized home office, and eventually made their way to the recycling bin when my mother had a chance to downsize.

Then came my time to travel as an adult, trying to set up my own home. I started with the idea of shot glasses but soon realized that a) I needed good-looking shelves to display them, and b) they were zero-utility value for someone who is never going to drink out of those glasses.

Then I moved on to collecting magnets because they were cheaper and there was room to display them on the refrigerator. Now with stainless-steel refrigerators, I’ll have to stick my magnets on a magnetic board or a world map on the wall and frame them.

From Israel to Brooklyn

This was in 2000 when I was working in Brooklyn. I had two artists who walked into my place of work selling their paintings. I didn’t have my own place to stay at that time. I was in my first job and was staying in my uncle’s basement because I couldn’t afford New York rent. I had no money nor interest in buying any paintings. The two artists said they were from Israel and had a great story to tell. Either they were good salesmen or I was a sucker for their story. The minute I saw one of the paintings, I fell in love.

Two elephants dancing in joy. Being Indian, I have a special affinity for elephants. I didn’t have a home, but this painting became my first home purchase — a constant reminder of my humble beginnings in Brooklyn with my first job.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong will hold a very special place in my heart. As a child when I used to sail with my dad on his ship, Kowloon was a port I visited. I have distinct memories of taking the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong and vice versa.

On one of my trips to Hong Kong as an adult, I visited the Stanley Market. I can walk around open markets browsing for hours on end. And Stanley Market didn’t disappoint.

By this time I had started collecting “affordable” artwork from the places that I visit that are unique to that place.

I came across this 3-piece painting which spoke to me immediately. Firstly, it is minimalistic. Second, there is something very peaceful about the way the four people go about their daily work. I wake up every morning to this painting in front of me.

China

When we visited Beijing, my children were very small. My son was all but 3 years old. He was a tanker, a chubby little boy, and super cute. If you saw him your hands would automatically gravitate to pinch his cheeks. And that’s what happened. When we were in one of the markets, we literally had a crowd of women around us wanting to touch him and carry him.

My son was quite temperamental and he started to cry, wanting his space. His father had to literally yell at everyone to back off and shield him from the crowd.

When I saw this painting I immediately thought of my son in that traditional Chinese outfit as a little emperor, looking out through multiple doors to see where we were as a juxtaposition to the day he was mobbed.

South Africa

I had always wanted to go to Africa, and it wasn’t until my 40th birthday that I finally planned a trip to South Africa. Although one of the wealthier of the nations I wanted to visit on that continent, I loved interacting with the lady who was selling the paintings at a local event in Stellenbosch.

The meaning behind paintings is what you make of them. As I saw in Anne Bonfert’s post on Zanzibar, she had showcased a shop selling similar art. To me, this painting symbolizes my two children and someday working together and walking together past their juvenile bickering and quarrels. Again, I liked the simplicity of the painting and the color scheme used to show two Africans.

India

I said to myself, how can I have paintings from all over the world and not from home — my Incredible India! I grew up in Chennai, in the south of India with distinct temple architecture and crowded streets.

The scene outside a temple lined up with shops with their goods overflowing into the streets, pedestrians walking, auto-rickshaws and scooters honking while trying to navigate the narrow streets. Welcome home!

All my art is affordable art that I bought in open markets and streets. I usually had them wrap the paintings in a tube and bring them back home. I usually end up paying 3–4 times the actual price of the painting for the frames in the United States. But it’s all priceless for me.

As I plan on downsizing from this marital home, I may dump my king-sized bed but these paintings will go with me to my next home.

Did you like what you read? I’d love to read your thoughts in the comments section.

I loved reading Anne Bonfert’s piece because Tanzania and Zanzibar is on my list of places to visit soon.

I could relate to Erie Astin’s story on collecting magnets.