GEORGE TOWN, Aug 28 — She is an advocate for elephant conservation and also an artist who uses her art to support these conservation works.

Penang-born Christine Das was previously a graphic designer before she decided to quit her job and become a full-time artist almost 10 years ago.

Today, the 50-year-old has participated in numerous group exhibitions and also held her fourth solo exhibition — Conversations@50 — at the Penang Performing Arts Centre (PenangPAC) in conjunction with George Town Festival 2016.

Christine works mostly with acrylic on canvas and her paintings are often bright and bold depictions of flora and fauna and in her latest collection, Mother Nature or Gaia.

Here, Christine talks about her art, her love for elephants and her most recent body of work.

In her own words:

Conversations@50 is about me turning 50 this year, the theme is based on my life values. Every painting, there are a total of 18 pieces, every single one of them is a value that I hold of importance to me right now. I don’t know how many good years I have left, it makes you think seriously about what you want to do, what you want to be like, what’s important, what’s not important anymore… these kind of life questions.

Last time, I focused a lot on trees, the only animal that took centrestage was the elephant, then my trees, I had little birds. Starting from last year, I focused more on Mother Earth, I had more of her. Every animal, I’ve linked them to a certain value. So it’s the first time I’ve painted tigers, eagles, sea horses, peacock, something I’ve not done before.

If we are talking about this collection, my favourite piece is Faith. Because of what I am going through in my personal life at this moment, faith is what means the most to me. Learning how to let go and just let life and the divine take over and just guide me. This to me is the most meaningful in the collection.  Another one is Envisage. It’s about having a clear vision of where I’m headed.

I do not have a day or a minute of regret. I think this (going into fine art) is my best career move ever. The reason being I have total freedom in my self expression. Freedom is very important to me. I have that and no one tells me what to do, what not to do and the fact that I have attached my art to a conservation of Nature cause. That, to me, is what adds value and complete satisfaction. Because it’s just not about me. So I have no regret.

Of course, the financial security part is not the same as when you are employed but I just thank God that I can still sustain myself on a daily basis through my art. So my art does help me out. Somehow there’s a balance. I only became dependent on my art for my finances about four years ago. Prior to that, when I was starting out, in the infancy stage, I was teaching art to sustain myself while I was finding myself, finding my voice, finding my style.

Ever since I learned to hold a pencil, I was already doodling and drawing. Then when I came out, I did graphic design. It was much later, like they say life begins at 40, when I had to question my life purpose, that’s when I questioned everything. I decided that I didn’t like this kind of life, in front of the computer all day long, all month long. I know there is something bigger out there in the world that I want to be part of. I used to have so much panic attacks while I was deciding to resign. My God, the anxiety and the panic... finally, one day, I just did it.

I joined an advocacy project with WWF. The Ulu Muda project. I owe them an exhibition which is going to happen after this exhibition. It is going to be my next little project. So, the deal is we went on an artist excursion so they took us to Ulu Muda and what we are supposed to do, as an artist, I’m supposed to paint something that’s inspired by Ulu Muda or something I want to say about Ulu Muda. That is going to be my gift back which I haven’t started yet because of my solo exhibition. So maybe January next year, we will have the show. The art will be sold to raise funds for WWF. They have a team of people working on Ulu Muda conservation.

When I am in my concrete home in Subang Jaya, in my thoughts and in my dreams I am in somewhere green and forestry, so I do a lot of daydreaming and fantasising while finding inspiration. I watch a lot of National Geographic, Animal Planet, and whatever documentaries. I look at a lot of wildlife and Nature photography. Sometimes you can’t be there so you have to look at visuals.  I am open to group shows like women’s collective and we work on a theme that may take me away from Nature, I am open to it.

This year, I have Ulu Muda and my painting is also the face of KL Eco Film Fest that is happening in October. Elephants are an ongoing thing. I am selling my postcards, RM10 goes to elephant conservations. I am selling the WWF elephants T-shirt on behalf of WWF. I have nothing else on my plate now, I have to focus on Ulu Muda first.

As long as I am holding a brush, I will be painting. Even if I gain my financial freedom, I will still be painting. It’s my passion but I am also realistic, we still money. I need to live and pay my bills. With an income, I can do more and further merchandise my art and continue to raise funds. My dream is to have my own line of Christine Das wearables. It has always been my dream. I think I will start small. I want to see how the T-shirts move. I would love to come up with handbags, bed linens but limited edition ones. I see that in my head but let’s just see. Bags are something I’ve always loved, maybe scarves too. Proceeds will go towards conservation works because I know, now that I have mixed with conservationists and do the work, I know they need a lot.