Kemal’s Sphere

“As a designer, I am a spiritual shark, for the ruthless truth is that I need to keep moving or I will sink to the bottom and die. My creativity is grounded in reality, sometimes focused or well observed, I consider myself my own promised land, and new frontier, for it is God’s will for me to be creative.” Manickchand gave this testimony at the showcase of his sculptural works, “Another Sphere of Existence”, presented by Sanctuary at Tortuga on October 15.

Some 29 pieces were featured. Among them, “Music of the Sphere”, “Fortress of Faith”, “Acceptance”, “Wings of Pain”, “Last Year’s Nest”, “Reflection”, “Infinite Sky”, “Good Intentions”, “No Strangers”, “Truly Live”, “Divine Assistance” and “Our Acceptance”.

There were also, Manickchand’s sculptures of “Brighter Tomorrow”, “Night Brings the Dawn”, “the Pathway of Pain”, “Guiding Light”, “Where He Leads”, “The Presence”, “Live Forever”, “Eternally”, “We Never Walk Alone”, “Shining Symbol”, “The Breath of Life”, “Spiritual Reality”, “There is Nothing New Under the Sun”, “Seasons Come and Seasons Go”, “Divine Sphere”, “Follow Me” and “Who God Really Is”, with pieces ranging from $2,500 to $12,000.

To Manickchand, creativity is a spirited issue, since all progress is made by stepping out in leaps of faith. He said he needs to go fully back to the spirited dependency little by little, for the dependency on the Creator is really freedom from all other dependencies. “It is the only route to other human beings with intimacy recovering for me is like a river, it flows rapids and all, and I come to trust my internal guide,” he told his guests gathered for the viewing.

The designer spoke of a need to withdraw at times, to recharge and review himself..and others.

“My personal withdrawal is very much a necessity. It becomes depleted when I don’t get a chance to be alone, in solitude, creative solitude...

The big question now arises. Am I self destructive or do I appear self destructive? Sometimes I listen to other people’s ideas of what self destructive is without ever asking myself whether we have similar needs, you know now the paradigms have shifted we are raising our children to believe that power and status are real sources of security and that dependency in God feels foolhardy.” There is meaning in the simplest spaces we have around us, he explained.

“Creative living requires the luxury of space for ourselves, even if it means carving a little space in a bookshelf to put coins, stamps, cigar labels, whatever, a part of the garden, a desk that no one else interferes with, a drawer that I put what is mine, I feel frightened to be selfish. I lose myself designing. It is not about thinking something up, it is about how to put it down. It just flows, straight from the Creator’s tap.” Who is the greatest designer? Artist? Architect? He said he strained himself when he tried to think something up. “It is something beyond me. I have accepted that it is natural to create, and the Creator will hand me whatever I need for the project, as I accept this collaboration.

I see help everywhere. In my lifetime there is a first voice and the second is a Liar. That is the key to harmonising and augmenting my inner creativity,” said Manickchand.

“I know I am a perfectionist, I am never satisfied. There are no first draft or rough sketches. There are only sketches to render complete. I know that I can be a great deal more than I am if I don’t have to do it perfectly. What’s the use? This is my rebellion rearing it’s head. All this wasted time. I am just too old for all of this. This anger. What’s the use? Who is this for? Sometimes I feel to wriggle out, escape, run away out of my creativity, be normal, dreamless, resigned from taking risks. What is the use? Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Turning to his family, Manickchand said: “I know my career as a designer has had injuries. It is now up to the people who surround me...

can you bear another wound? “One of the most difficult things for me to comprehend is my artistic wounds. The best I can do is to make my pain energy. I have this tendency to get up and move on.

This is where the Creator steps in to my loss and says I am right next to you. ‘I am the breeze that speaks to you. Be still and know that ‘I AM’.” “When we tap into ‘I AM’ we become timeless, and our creativity occurs in a moment. To remain true to myself I map my creative interest that now becomes an original. I am the origin of designing, this is the ego of being first and the best. I know my designs need to incubate, change, sprawl a little, misshapen and finally as itself. That is why I need a different mix of stability and flow. “I can only create what wants to be created. I must surround myself only with people who nurture my designs and not people who want to domesticate it.” He explored the dilemma of their art versus earning a living which artists face. “Creativity is not a business even though it generates much business. Is this not a paradox? “When I play it safe for my clients that ensures my finances I lose.

Sometimes every time I lose my cutting edge. I just cannot struggle with my designs anymore it is suicidal. “Creativity requires faith.

Therefore I need to relinquish control.

Is that possible? To be true to myself, following my dreams and vision this I know triggers the support of the universe. My soul begins in darkness, chaos. This chaos needs to thrust out of this darkness, for creativity to exist. It has to understand the mystery of the heart, your heart, my heart.” He ends saying: “I now have to re-examine my philosophy and creativity for the fire that I lit as a little boy in Fyzabad I will not allow the fires of my dreams to be buried and I know the embers are always there stirring in my soul. Therefore I will not tolerate anyone who ever dares to pour cold water in my direction for I am not made of the same dust of the universe that you are made from.”