In the heart of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, lies Shri Jasnath Asan—a sanctuary of wisdom, devotion, and quiet revolution. I came here not just as an artist in residence, but as a metal sculptor, painter, and a believer in the power of art to transform lives.
Drawn to this sacred place by an unshakable calling, I arrived with a mission—to empower women through creativity, to support the asan’s vision of upliftment, and to weave something lasting into the fabric of this community.
Painting With the People
Art here is not a solitary act; it is a conversation, a collaboration, a living thing. The dining hall—a communal space where laughter, stories, and tradition are shared over simple, nourishing meals—became our canvas. With the locals by my side, I painted a mural that belongs to them as much as it does to me. The process was fluid, organic, shaped by the hands that held the brushes and the hearts that poured their energy into every stroke.
Beyond the dining hall, the guest house walls began to bloom with my large, abstract botanical paintings—a reflection of the desert’s quiet resilience, its unseen vibrancy, its deep-rooted wisdom. These paintings are not just decoration; they are invitations to pause, to feel, to absorb the pulse of this sacred land.
Metal, Fire, and Female Power
As a metal sculptor, I am no stranger to fire—the way it bends, shapes, and transforms raw material into something new. Here, in a place where fire is both sacred and practical, I see parallels between my craft and the strength of the women I came to support.
Rajasthan’s women are like metal in the forge—resilient, adaptable, unbreakable. My time here has deepened my commitment to giving them tools, both literal and metaphorical, to carve out their own paths. Through art, through shared creation, through the belief that expression is power, I hope to leave behind more than just murals and sculptures. I hope to leave behind possibility.
A Mission Beyond Art
The Jasnathi saints teach that true devotion is found in service. To create is to serve. To uplift others through art, to forge connections across language and culture, to leave behind something meaningful—this is my offering.
As I walk past the murals that now belong to this place, I know that I have received as much as I have given. Shri Jasnath Asan has been a crucible of growth, refining not just my art, but my purpose. And while my residency here may end, the work—the mission—continues.
The author Lisa Regan is a Metal sculptor, a painter, and a traveller from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Currently creating art at the Asan in Panchla Siddha, blending tradition with modern expression. Mother of four sons, forging beauty and connection across cultures!
