August 31, 2026 • 42 mins
In this episode, Alexis sits down with Neha Kumar, a facilitator, art curator, and owner of Artful Yoga Gallery in St Kilda, Victoria. Together they explore the power of creativity, community, and healing through art, as Neha shares her journey of creating a space where artists, wellness, and human connection come together with purpose and intention
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @
neha.artfulyoga / artfulyoga.gallery
This episode was recorded on 16 August 2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
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Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:49):
Oh my goodness, Seth.
I know.
Neha.
I know.
Welcome to Through The Creative Door.
Thank you.
Thank you.
This is so lovely.
When we always do these, sometimes it's like people have come through my creative door, but I've truly come through your creative door- Yeah … because we are in your beautiful gallery space.
(01:11):
Ooh.
For those listening, you are such a talented bear.
Thank you.
Such a talented bear.
You are, one, obviously, the owner and curator of this amazing gallery.
Mm. , But also, you are an instructor.
Mm. You facilitate all these amazing yoga and spiritual events and things, and I feel like you are just a curator and stylist of all sorts of amazing things.
(01:40):
You just get… It's like you use people as your paintbrush.
I really feel- Wow … that you are one of those facilitators of seeing all of these creative sparks and all of this beautiful energy around you.
Mm. And you just use the, your, your paintbrush, your people, the people in Connect and the Tapestry.
(02:02):
And obviously, having a basis- Yeah
of this beautiful space here in St. Kilda that you get to- Yeah … I don't know, use as your base to be able to bring everyone in.
Yeah.
Wow.
Thank you.
That really, like, explains it.
I do, I see everyone as art.
. I'm like, what is their expression?
(02:22):
Yeah.
Yeah.
What is their flavor?
What is their color?
And then I love curating the unique combinations that I see in my head.
Well, I think it's really important 'cause we've spoken off mic about this space- … and how it's come to be.
But I would be very chuffed if you would share a little bit of that story with our listeners of- the origins or- Mm … the person- … that this all means- Inspired … so much about.
(02:53):
Yeah, that sparked all of this.
Yeah.
Definitely the biggest story of my life is the story of my mother.
And, just to give you the framework, this, this soul is the most powerful force because of the way that she loved.
And I feel like despite circumstances, which were quite hard for her she just saw beauty in everything.
(03:21):
She saw beauty in everything.
She tried to be beautiful in anything.
Like the lotus flower.
And I remember life being like that swamp- And she remained above it.
And this play started from the moment I was sitting with her as she was going through her chemotherapy treatment.
(03:43):
And in chemotherapy, the room is like this kind of a small room with a couple of chairs in a circle, and everyone that's dripped hooked up to the drip is k- facing inwards, facing each other.
The distance is not close enough to be able to have a relaxing conversation.
You'd have to really exert your voice, but also everyone else would hear.
(04:06):
So no one's talking.
And she's sitting there, and about several other people are sitting there, all hooked up to chemotherapy.
And I remember sitting next to her, and I remember looking at the people and, like, some, had others with them, some didn't.
Some looked like they were… Yeah, just like I was wondering what they're thinking and what they must be going through and what she is thinking and what she's going through, 'cause you sit there for several hours, and you just are sitting there, like contemplating and going through this experience.
(04:40):
No one's really talking.
There's a stupid TV, like, news playing, and it's just dumb.
And I just felt like the awkwardness of that several people going through the same thing.
No one's really talking.
No one's barely looking into each other's eyes.
It's really weird.
(05:00):
And then you're going through this life-altering experience.
And I just, like, kind of felt sick, and I really wished for her to have a more beautiful experience than that And I thought to myself, like that pain of that experience for me was the catalyst because I saw like what it needed or I was just like, "I just wish it felt more homely or a bit more inspiring or a bit more like the gravity of this is so big and this can't be it.
(05:33):
This can't be it." I was like, "This can't be it." What would it take to have a little bit of color on the walls or like soft beautiful music playing or someone storytelling about something that would really inspire in this moment?
But something of a human touch to complement the treatment.
So as I really like to kind of like summarize, I wanna be a pioneer in advancing health using art because it's inevitable that humans are gonna have a physical, emotional, spiritual ailment of some type in their journey.
(06:12):
I want it to be supported by the humanity that is art.
It reminds us, there's hope, there's color, there's vibrancy, there's music, there's dance, and I feel like no matter what state you're in, but having that around you is stimulating something 'cause you're always getting input of stimulus And that input is very crucial to how you feel.
(06:38):
And that feeling then catalyzes itself into chemical reactions in the body, immune, you know, restoration, and you feel better, and you feel… when you walk into a, a club, and there's the best music playing, and you had a hard day at work, it's been a big week, but you walk in and then it's just like, ah, there's fun and there's life.
(06:58):
So I know that these things are very serious in a hospital setting, but do they have to be?
Like, do they actually have to be that way?
And I just started questioning like, "Why is it like this? Why is it so heavy?" And I visualize color, and I visualize soft lights, and I visualize music, and I visualize poets and storytellers, and I'm like, they've got several hours.
(07:26):
We could surely have something.
And then I guess the journey carried on and, you know, I was just so focused in getting her better and so focused in giving her my love that I really went down a rabbit hole of like discovering the trilogy that is the mind, body, spirit, and what caused cancer, what really caused things to be off balance in the body.
(07:51):
And I found out that 85 to 95% of all human diseases on this planet are from the environment, from what you eat, from what you think, from what you do, what you don't do.
That means only 15%, approximately, are hereditary, which means about 85% of people we could save if we changed the environment.
(08:15):
And that's what I wanted to do.
I wanted to create an environment where you walk in and it's just, it's easy.
It's easy to be, it's easy to be raw.
I want people to stop performing and pretending and- Take the mask off Take the mask off … leave it at the door Leave it at the door.
And you know, sometimes it's uncomfortable to be yourself, but I really value being myself more because I don't really care what another person thinks of me.
(08:40):
I care more to be healthy within myself.
Hats off to you, 'cause everything that you had aimed towards creating in this space- Mm … at Artful Yoga Gallery, I think you've achieved that.
Every- Mm … time that I've come into this space, there is a different energy.
(09:01):
Yeah.
But there's always a welcoming… for those listening, if you ever get a chance to come down, you need to, because you always have different artwork.
Yeah.
You're, um, highlighting amazing emerging artists from all walks of life.
Mm. I mean, I've, I've been in here and listened to music, and I've watched dance, and I've seen beautiful exhibitions.
(09:21):
Mm. I've seen firsthand when you've had, someone live painting over a whole day.
Yeah.
And people were also being part of that by the tapestry that was on the floor while they were painting.
Like, I've pretty much seen it all here I feel.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, and what a beautiful privilege and gift it is to be able to facilitate that, and you have definitely- Yeah.
(09:42):
Yeah, and continue to do that.
That's it.
And the added thing is my dream has come true.
Like, I got to make a space that I dreamt of sitting in that chemotherapy room, and it's my reality.
And this year we just collaborated with Alfred Health Hospital- Yaas They come in here- Full circle … they come in here, they deliver this New Perspectives College, which is about, like for example, next week the workshop is free.
(10:12):
All the workshops are free.
Next week is about how to understand what it means to be a carer and the person undergoing the tre- like, what are the nuances, how does a person that's caring for someone ill give themselves understanding?
'Cause you're focused on the other sick person- Mm … and what to do and how to… But you've got all this turbulence.
(10:35):
So understanding from the two perspectives.
So it's called New Perspective College.
Um, they're emerging school of the Alfred Health Hospital group, and this 2026, they started doing that college here.
They do all their workshops here.
And it's a great start.
Yeah, it's a great start.
(10:56):
And, you know, this is for her.
This is for her, and I really want this to have space in every hospital.
I want a room.
That's thinking too small.
I want a gallery in every hospital where there's art and people can go down and enjoy art.
Mm. That's easy.
Yeah.
(11:16):
We can do that.
Just takes one room, converted into something beautiful for all the patients and their carers, and the children, and anyone needing to support themselves, sit in art and be inspired about life.
And I think that is fundamental thing, right?
Yes.
Is that in a space where it can be doom and gloom in a hospital- Mm
(11:39):
but having that hope, that- Mm … overarching, you know-
Art ends up giving life it is, oh, I love this Hope gives life.
Hope gives life.
It does.
Art sparks that.
It does.
We used to sit around campfires, and sit and talk, and share stories, and dance and sing, and we would have rituals under the sun and the moon.
(12:09):
The cycles, we would honor the elements.
We would do it in, in the sea.
We would, you know, we would bathe, and we would be with river streams and nature.
Like, this was humanity.
That's who we are, and now we're too busy.
Now we're so disconnected, and now we're watching, like scrolling, scrolling.
Now we're watching things, like, being mimicked to us, uh, rather than watching reality.
(12:34):
It's like it's just a illusion that we're watching rather than reality, and art is reality.
This is real.
This is someone taking their… That's a soul that created all this artwork or created the dance form or the music.
That was a soul that you're listening to.
So when you hear the truth, when your truth hears the truth, I feel like that is real time transmission.
(13:03):
That's gospel.
You know, when you hear gospel in a choir and, and you get moved.
So that's why ho- hope is movement, like of the soul, and hope is, like, the biggest catalyst.
If you have hope, man, you have anything in the world.
Like, Nelson Mandela had hope 27 years in prison.
When he was being buried alive, he still had hope.
(13:24):
When he got out of prison, he had hope.
He pursued that hope and became the first Black president to reform many lives and many generations still.
Hope
You just need hope.
It's just- Well said Well said.
Everybody, you heard it here.
(13:45):
Right.
Now, as a curator- … I mean, you have obviously this space.
But as a curator, 'cause you're obviously, you have a lot of information I have to imagine, that you're, researching, doing your vetting, putting together- Mm … you know, events and, and trying to put the pieces together of how a particular event will vibe with certain musicians and certain dancers and gallery space and, and everything like that.
(14:14):
Mm. When you're creating and putting together something- … what does a creative space mean to you?
That's a great question.
A creative space is one made with intention.
Intention has the trifecta of heart, mind, soul.
(14:34):
You have to think of those elements.
You have to think of how to from the simplicity of, like, how you start, the breath you take before you hold the audience, to the cadence within you and the reasoning for every single word out of your mouth, intention.
And then I think beyond the intention, it's like how can I love this color?
(14:57):
These colors.
How can I… it's like a painting, you know?
If you do the primary colors in this order, it makes this.
And then this order makes that.
And then if you blur the lines, it creates this illusion.
So it's kind of like, well, this is this person's art, this is this person's art, and I see people as art anyway.
So I'm like, ah.
Like, for example, the South Asian scene.
(15:19):
So I'm from India, and I love culture.
The cultural aspect of being from these countries surpasses my, like, I'm just like, there's a plethora of knowledge and art and culture and human, kind of like, intrinsic parts of our society that are so rich.
And then you blend it with this other rich society and this other rich, like you know, cultural aspects and colors and- And traditions and- But, traditions.
(15:47):
Yeah.
But then when you blend them, it's like a mixed base, uh, race baby.
They said pretty.
And we just talk about this We were talking about this off, off camera.
Right?
Yeah.
And like, you are mixed race.
Mm. And being of one race and another race one culture, another cul- one art form and another art form, when you amalgamate it, I'm like, the scientist in me is just, I love it.
(16:15):
I love it.
And then I think I've always had a knack for look, looking at things and putting it together.
I just… This is really random, but I used to when I was a kid walk down the street, and I used to think I was gonna be a florist.
So I'd look at flowers, and I'd be like, "That would look good with that one." And I'd keep walking, and I'd be like, "Oh, if that would be…" And then I would imagine the bunch of flowers together, and that's like literally what I would do.
(16:38):
So now it's kind of like that's a metaphor for what I see now.
I'm like, "You're a flower, and you're a flower.
And your color and this color, and this smell and this smell, and this vibrancy," and I'm like, "That's what curation is." The art form is a story that I wanna tell.
So basically, curation is being able to tell that story with the right effects, the right amount of like layering of music or sound and, and light.
(17:03):
It just has to complement.
Yeah.
Curation is just complementing.
True, but it is a, it's an art form in itself.
It is.
Not everyone has the talent for it.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, obviously.
You are- She's like- And um- … "Not everyone can do what I can do." Well, no.
'Cause I've seen, I've seen.
(17:23):
I've just… I'm like, for example, you know, I'm a true Aries, so I'm very particular.
I love decorating.
I also think from the childhood experience, we were so, so, poor, and we didn't have a lot.
Mattresses is where we slept on the floor.
We didn't have a dining table for a long time.
(17:43):
We never had a couch.
We had mattresses.
And I remember hard rubbish.
I would pick up hard rubbish items, and I would arrange them, and I would restore them, and then I'd decorate the house.
You wouldn't even tell that we didn't have much 'cause my mom and I made it so cozy and beautiful
I'ma beep that table.
You're gonna beep that table.
Yeah.
But that in itself, I have spoken to other creative minds, and that visualization- Mm … where you can, like you were saying before, you can see the colors, you can see the placement, you can imagine be- without even lifting a finger what that would look like together.
(18:19):
Mm. That seems to be a common thread with quite a lot of creatives- Mm … where it's that visualization before you've even- Yeah … started the process.
Yeah.
Um, yeah.
Which is amazing.
Well, I think the visualization is from God.
It's from that intelligence, you know, whether it's your song, whether it's a beat, like a beat that you find just comes into your mind.
(18:47):
Whether it's any dance form, you get inspired.
You don't even know where how it's gonna, like, unfold, but you know that there's something there, and that's the tap, that's the, God nature of us all.
Like, we have this evocation of creativity and creation.
And so as creatives, we are tapped in, as they say, 'cause we're only creatives because we are part of the creator.
(19:13):
The creator in us we have a re- you know, there's a relational dialect happening.
I'm relating, I'm, like, feeling, sensing, you know?
That's why we're very sensitive, and we're very emotional.
We feel so much.
And then that's kind of like the… We're able to receive that information, and then we channel it into music or any art form, as you call it.
(19:37):
And that's what it is.
That is that's how we get it.
It's by being close to God.
And you can call God any name you want, but for me, there is a creation happening all the time, and we just have to kind of get the id- yeah, listen in.
Got to be open to listen.
Listen.
Listen in.
Gotta listen for it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(19:59):
Now, you've been doing this for a fair while now, but also you have a big life that you lead.
I'm curious if you've curated something in this space or even before that, is there something that you are most proud of creating?
Mm. And I'd love to know how it's come about.
(20:21):
I mean, the most proud moment for me is personal again, but every moment really has equal weight.
I do vividly remember the exhibition we did, Renewal, with photography, and you were part of it, right?
You came.
Were you doing photography as well in it?
I was helping.
Helping, yes.
Helping.
Yes.
And I remember that was profound, again, because- There were several cancer patients, and then they allowed us to step into their lives and take photographs of their story.
(20:53):
Some were moms, you know, some were grandparents, some were y- very young.
And I loved that because, again, it was like sitting here.
It was the couch where it's currently positioned, everyone in a circle.
We're having this conversation about hope.
And also because I really wanna launch the, I guess, a program which helps specifically cancer patients, but we're in the process of that.
(21:20):
I'm literally in talks with Alfred Health to start this, and I've … That was my dream from the Renu exhibition.
Takes me a little time to find the right people to work with.
That's a big one.
Even hospitals, like, you wanna be aligned.
And now that I'm working with Alfred Health, I was like, "That hospital is actually aligned.
I have to find out more with deeper layers." So everything has equal weight.
(21:45):
The Renu exhibition because I want to launch cancer treatment programs with art as like a- Foundation … supplement.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Foundation, something to supplement the treatment side.
That would be it.
But everything else is u- unique and significant in every milestone because it was involving someone's dream that I was part of.
(22:07):
Yeah.
There was something that you just mentioned there about the hospital- Mm … and about aligning- Mm … and I guess doing your due diligence- Mm … of making sure that you're really on the same page- Mm … to move forward with a project.
I wonder if that is a great segue into the challenges that you have a- as a creator- Yeah, come at me
(22:29):
as a curator.
Because as we all know, whether that be in our personal lives or even in a working situation, finding partnerships is half the battle.
Mm. You know, you don't wanna be conflicting at the same time with someone that you're meant to be on the same journey with.
Yeah.
And again, don't wanna lead the question or the answer, but what challenges you or what has challenged you in this process as, of, of being a curator?
(22:57):
People.
Yeah.
And scene.
That's it.
That's- And done.
Okay, cool.
Next question.
No, I'm kidding.
Enough said.
Yeah, people.
Yeah.
Damn, people come with a lot of stuff.
And, uh, as you amalgamate art, so art's liberated very, not in the box spectrum of the, you know, thinkers and creators.
(23:19):
So when you're outside of the box, it's- it's liberation and freedom, but it's also sometimes there's no boundaries and rules that people like to follow.
It's like- Have you met an artist?
Am I speaking to you?
Have you met an artist?
Am I speaking directly to the Virgo that likes that structure?
Structure.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(23:39):
Same.
Oh, God.
I love structure.
I don't like, I don't like coming in and last minute, "No, oh, can we just pop…" And I'm like, but I'm learning.
But yeah, the problem or the challenge has been that people don't always have, I guess, without a good understanding of the person and me explaining also my, the, my tastes, my likes, my kind of way of learning, my way of structuring projects, then people on different cadences miss each other.
(24:10):
I'm going too fast 'cause I can do things.
I'm g- I'm going from one project to another.
I'm fast.
Some people need to sit.
They wanna dissect.
They wanna go layer by layer by layer.
But first they wanna have five hours of chats, and I ain't got time for that.
And I'm a, I'm a fire sign also, so I, I want boom.
(24:32):
And somebody is earth.
They take their time.
They wanna settle i- yeah.
So it's learning those, um, reciprocal nature pathways of this is what that person needs, and this is what I need, and I'll understand you.
You'll understand me.
And then we'll meet hopefully somewhere in a balanced equation where I'll be slow for you here, 'cause that's really important, and you will be fast for me here, because that's really important.
(24:58):
And putting… It's like a piece of the puzzle.
You really have to fit the shapes.
You have to fit to another person sometimes.
They have to fit into you.
But without two people wanting or allowing themselves to say, "I'm gonna have to try and fit somewhere," you will not fit.
It won't line up.
All these projects Do you have, fr- from a very practical level- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm
(25:22):
is there a process that you follow as a curator?
Is there like a- Mm … um, a questionnaire or, like, do you have group calls with the people that you're collaborating with in a whole, or do you do it individually?
Individually.
Yeah.
Depends on the scale and how big or how much in- involved.
If I've done something a number of times, like events, like listening sessions, we just started that.
(25:47):
I kinda know it's a simple, basic, instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, me, room.
It's not a lot of the curation.
It'll be a lot more, getting to know the artist, what they need, how long they want for the set, what, what's involved in the set.
I also have discussions about safety.
S- nuances like, um, what do you need when you arrive?
(26:08):
How long time, of a time do you need?
What, do you need stops in between?
Do you want me to hold the speaking part 'cause you are the artist and you just wanna concentrate 'cause maybe you're not an extrovert, maybe you're an introverted artist and you don't really like to, "Hi, everybody. Welcome to…"
And no, they don't.
So I've learnt all of these things, and it's just about, um, I guess because I, perhaps in my old role, like I was a scientist.
(26:36):
So I worked with, and I was working in mining and engineering and energy, sorry.
And I had engineers, I had operational management, I had HR, I had health and safety, I had stakeholders, and I was the environment part, so all of these people, all of the stuff that they do for a power plant, I have to manage with them environmental aspects structurally or, , yeah, logistically or legally, right?
(27:02):
So all of these different brains and all of these different departments.
I think that really set me up 'cause I did that in my 20s for a decade, and so I, that really set me up of how to work with different types of people and what's important to them, and then help them help me.
I've really learnt that skill well.
(27:22):
And yeah, and I make sure that I'm helping you, but in helping you, you're helping me.
So I think it's a fine art, again, if I can use that word to, like, describe being able to learn people, not to manipulate them, but to really respect that when I get you and I love and value you to the degree that also you do for me, it's a reciprocal thing, but we'll be better.
(27:49):
I'm not gonna just go in and be like, "This is my space.
This is how we do it.
This is the T's and C's.
Sign the dotted line, and you have no say," which is a lot of other galleries and things like that.
I think flexibility, but not being taken for a- again, it's a reciprocal I understand you, you understand me, and we're really gonna be able to focus.
(28:10):
I think also I'm a bit straight up in terms of I'm gentle, but I'm straight up in terms of I don't like to waste time.
You know, let's not fluff about.
Let's not create drama.
What's the objective?
Yeah.
Let's not create drama where it's unnecessarily, like, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's a little bit of a dance between the practicality and the emotional c- intelligence.
(28:31):
And I also think that this is an ongoing journey for all of us, whether it's from a business perspective or from a personal perspective.
It's like we're constantly learning how to do it better.
Yeah.
How to listen more, how to hold space, how to, Like you said, once upon a time you probably didn't know all of the, the idiosyncrasies as required with- Yeah the tapestry of artists and how they work.
(28:55):
I did not.
And the nuances.
Like people just get upset and they just take their art and they just leave.
In the middle of the exhibition.
Yeah.
I've had that.
And not quite understanding the etiquette around- Right … how it all goes.
And then I- Which is- Exactly.
Yeah.
For those listening, if you haven't been to a gallery before, they usually put little stickers on them to say they're sold, and then you get to collect them at the end- End
(29:16):
of the date.
Uh-
That's right … people still need to see them even though they're sold.
Yes.
You don't get to take it home right away.
But also like then, uh, creating systems.
Yeah.
People, I think creatives need to understand that without using systems we have no structure.
Contracts, agreements, pre-agreements, , signing like, you know, waivers, liability, who's responsible, what are you gonna do if something goes wrong?
(29:41):
What if you, what are you gonna do if somebody wants to legally take action on something?
Education of all of these parameters or at least having someone in the know, very important.
Very, very, very, very important 'cause you will get screwed, and you will get taken on a ride, and that's why a lot of the artists that we see that are so famous and so rich have been ex- extrapolated off their art, and their art is owned actually by someone else, and they get a minority of the percentage rather than the majority of- the product.
(30:11):
So- I think there's a key point there that it doesn't matter where you are in your career- … and whether that be that you have your own business within the art sector or you are an artist yourself- Yep … I think there's a really strong focus that you need to build of t- of your, who is your team?
Who is your team?
Being who have you got on the books?
(30:33):
That doesn't mean- Mm … to me that you know, you're paying, I don't know, a monthly salary to somebody.
But, like, who is the legal representation?
Who can read a contract for you- Right … if you need it?
Right.
Who is your go-to for copyright?
Who's your go-to?
Like, have a bit of a directory for yourself as- That's right
a creator to go, okay.
And there are plenty of ways to get that.
(30:54):
I know from a music perspective- Mm … I mean, there's so many organizations.
There's, um, APRA AMCOS.
Mm. There's, um, Music Victoria.
Mm. Each of the states have their own- … bodies to help you- Yes, yes … with that stuff.
There's resources everywhere.
Yes.
But even as a entrepreneur, as a business owner, you know, a sole trader, you, yeah you, like, who's your accountant?
(31:15):
Who's your tax agent?
Who's your, yeah, who's giving you- Yeah … mentoring?
Who's… Yeah.
All of those things are so important.
Yeah.
'Cause otherwise sometimes I think this journey, we can, it's a lot that we're holding on our own, as you know.
Well, you don't know it- Well, you don't know what you don't know … until you find out the hard way.
I Really think entrepreneurship, anything artistry, like creative, you are an athlete.
(31:39):
You are an athlete.
You are playing an endurance game, a stamina game, a mental game, an emotional, spiritual game that you need to be well-equipped, and you need to have all the aptitude of your body, your mind, and your spirit.
And that, for me, is like you gotta train like an athlete.
Maybe not physically ex- you know, extensively, but you do.
(32:03):
You do.
You have to be able to… And I'm like, "These are the things that I think for the longevity of any career, especially as a freelance creative, your body and your mind is exactly what's gonna get you to the success that you s- " I heard this the other day, what it was, along the lines of the direct correlation to your ambition is your regulated nervous system
(32:34):
I was like- Yes.
Mm. Yeah.
My ambition and how I get that is directly related to my nervous system.
'Cause you ain't gonna be getting clients and securing deals and making friends and turning up and having a community if you are a wreck.
(32:54):
People that love you will be there for you, I hope.
But you're not gonna have the magnetism that, or the authenticity.
Authenticity is the magnetism.
You can't fake magnetism.
To be that vessel of, like, authentic, pure, whole person, that athlete mentality, like, I definitely think is very key.
(33:20):
And a lot of creatives don't work on themselves.
They roll out, think about what they're gonna do, never do it.
I'm like, "Go for a walk.
It will give you the catalyst.
Go for a run.
Breathe.
You know, do something." 'Cause it's like you gotta take the action before the action.
(33:40):
You gotta be the thing before the thing.
I think this is a great segue- Mm … into-
If you could give one piece of advice, one nugget of gold, what would it be?
First of all, I feel like the most important advice I can give anyone, and this is my advice
You have to know that you have this beautiful relationship with the creator.
(34:07):
And that creator, which is the life force around you, within you is the constant.
The constant.
And all of these things, whether you become the most elite, successful, famous, whatever, but if the vessel is hollow and you don't have anything to hold you, that will be, that will fall beneath your feet, like the weight of that.
(34:32):
Who am I?
What do I stand for?
What means something to me and why?
And then every decision will be based around that.
And that's your, like, business model, if you wanna call it.
That's like your life mo- model.
And so to be successful in anything, first you have to be successful in that relationship.
You don't even have to have a religious context.
I don't have a religious background in that sense.
(34:54):
I have a intrinsic background.
Like, I've really gotten to know myself deep.
And that's my advice.
Please know yourself deeply.
Don't excuse that for when there's an ailment in your body or things are just so bad that… Honestly, it's gonna be like a hero's journey.
It will be something so bad it will wake you up.
(35:17):
But that wake-up is your opportunity.
So if you're having a, a break down moment, it's your breakthrough moment, and that's the moment where you search for something of meaning.
And that, for me, was a search of my relationship, my love with God.
I was like, "I'm a miracle.
I'm held.
I'm loved.
I'm always loved." And that for me, I'm like, even if I get to things or not, even if I'm challenged by things or people don't see anything that I do, it actually doesn't make a difference intrinsically to me.
(35:50):
Because that's the thing that will break us, when we're, like, always searching.
Do you see me?
Did you like my song?
Did you like my thing?
Are you sharing my post?
Are you, like, are you turning up to my event?
Like these things will be so fleeting and, like, they will destroy you in those fleeting moments that the constant has to be something bigger than the fleeting temporary.
(36:11):
Oh, said.
Just- said … just saying.
Just saying.
You heard it here first, folks.
You heard it here first.
Yeah.
Now, if someone wanted to do what you do- Yeah … and develop their- Us against the door … I guess, their process as a creator- … as a curator, what resources, what would you recommend?
(36:37):
Have you done courses?
Have you read books?
Uh, there's a lot.
There's, I think the most important parts of becoming someone that does something of significance for their life, first is a disciplined life.
Without the discipline, you're not gonna go very far for very long.
(37:00):
It's gonna be fleeting.
So if I didn't have discipline, this place wouldn't uphold because I would've given up way before when it got really hard.
My rock bottom was even zero dollars but discipline.
I still got up every day.
I still did my, like, workout, went to the gym to have a shower.
You . But discipline.
Discipline and, like, the things that I do to keep me well, despite the challenges around you.
(37:24):
The second pocket, as I said before, some relationship.
You gotta have some relationship to yourself, some relationship and a faith that is bigger than your, yours from the temporary illusions, and that constant.
The third part is good people.
Choose your people.
Don't be quick from a glance or something that's flashy or someone that says all these wonderful things, but inside there's a resonance in you that's like I feel anxious."
"Hmm, I feel nervous." Um, yeah, that's the tri- that's like for me the three parts (37:53):
discipline, consistency, no matter what.
You stay… You keep going even if it's not working.
You keep going.
There's a discipline to you.
A relationship to yourself.
Great people.
'Cause all of those things, discipline will inevitably translate to learning and growth mindset and, you know, development and not giving up and being strong.
(38:19):
The faith will keep you anchored to the truth of, like, integrity and keep you really, really charismatic in your endeavors 'cause your spirit will be always… In my language we say, "Chordhi kala," which is the highest, remaining in the highest spirit.
Amen.
And the third is good people 'cause people will destroy your life if you don't choose the right people.
(38:44):
They could.
And that part of the parcel is you know, at 39, not married, no kids, but having such a fabulous life.
It's because I'm not choosing for haste and quick and I better respond to this biological clock or, like, society's expecta- No.
I'm just gonna discern my people.
And around me I see so much quality, and today I definitely had a moment in my meditation where I was just crying and looking at all the faces in my life.
(39:15):
So that's how you wanna go out too.
You don't wanna just be in your life to get to your artistry either.
You wanna get this experience of life and get to the end and be like, "I stayed true to myself. I had gr- great people around me. And I'm, I was in a badass body." That's the, I guess the whole thing.
It's not just about your product or your, like, output.
(39:37):
It's about but from beginning to end, did you do it well?
Yeah.
Said.
Mm. Well said.
Mm. Now, one last question for you.
Who would you want to come on the podcast and answer these questions, and why?
Next?
Yeah.
Come on the podcast.
Oh, I would love for you to interview Trick Singh.
(40:00):
Why?
The artist that I just showed you, the South Asian artist.
Why?
Because he is a genius at his art.
He is consistent.
He has such a love for his fans, like his followers, and his supporters, and his community.
(40:21):
He's a path maker.
He's a revolutionary
And he's humble.
Oh, what a great- So maybe on Tuesday night … fantastic artist.
Yes.
Yes.
I'll be like, "By the way, Liz just does this podcast." "By the way, I think you should…"
Imagine.
Imagine.
But anything's possible.
Oh my goodness.
I've had the best time chatting with you.
(40:42):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for coming through The Creative Door.
Yeah.
For those listening, you don't stalk Neha in the consensual way on- Yeah
socials- Socials … and see the gallery I will come for you.
I mean, that's just how a real one does it.
You're not.
No.
Yeah.
Uh, you need to get down here.
You've always got beautiful events happening.
(41:04):
Yeah.
There's always something beautiful- Yeah … and inclusive, so yes.
And my dream is that we will be fully funded one day.
Majority of all that we do as AYG is donation option, all of them.
But I wanna get to a space where everything is donation option, so it's just a no-brainer.
Yeah.
If you can, you can.
(41:24):
But you still get to.
Yeah.
You still get to.
That's really what's gonna help heal our world.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Thank you so much.
Beautiful.
Thank you so much
Oh my goodness, Seth.
I know.
Neha.
I know.
Welcome to Through The Creative Door.
Thank you.
Thank you.
This is so lovely.
When we always do these, sometimes it's like people have come through my creative door, but I've truly come through your creative door- Yeah … because we are in your beautiful gallery space.
(01:11):
Ooh.
For those listening, you are such a talented bear.
Thank you.
Such a talented bear.
You are, one, obviously, the owner and curator of this amazing gallery.
Mm. , But also, you are an instructor.
Mm. You facilitate all these amazing yoga and spiritual events and things, and I feel like you are just a curator and stylist of all sorts of amazing things.
(01:40):
You just get… It's like you use people as your paintbrush.
I really feel- Wow … that you are one of those facilitators of seeing all of these creative sparks and all of this beautiful energy around you.
Mm. And you just use the, your, your paintbrush, your people, the people in Connect and the Tapestry.
(02:02):
And obviously, having a basis- Yeah
of this beautiful space here in St. Kilda that you get to- Yeah … I don't know, use as your base to be able to bring everyone in.
Yeah.
Wow.
Thank you.
That really, like, explains it.
I do, I see everyone as art.
. I'm like, what is their expression?
(02:22):
Yeah.
Yeah.
What is their flavor?
What is their color?
And then I love curating the unique combinations that I see in my head.
Well, I think it's really important 'cause we've spoken off mic about this space- … and how it's come to be.
But I would be very chuffed if you would share a little bit of that story with our listeners of- the origins or- Mm … the person- … that this all means- Inspired … so much about.
(02:53):
Yeah, that sparked all of this.
Yeah.
Definitely the biggest story of my life is the story of my mother.
And, just to give you the framework, this, this soul is the most powerful force because of the way that she loved.
And I feel like despite circumstances, which were quite hard for her she just saw beauty in everything.
(03:21):
She saw beauty in everything.
She tried to be beautiful in anything.
Like the lotus flower.
And I remember life being like that swamp- And she remained above it.
And this play started from the moment I was sitting with her as she was going through her chemotherapy treatment.
(03:43):
And in chemotherapy, the room is like this kind of a small room with a couple of chairs in a circle, and everyone that's dripped hooked up to the drip is k- facing inwards, facing each other.
The distance is not close enough to be able to have a relaxing conversation.
You'd have to really exert your voice, but also everyone else would hear.
(04:06):
So no one's talking.
And she's sitting there, and about several other people are sitting there, all hooked up to chemotherapy.
And I remember sitting next to her, and I remember looking at the people and, like, some, had others with them, some didn't.
Some looked like they were… Yeah, just like I was wondering what they're thinking and what they must be going through and what she is thinking and what she's going through, 'cause you sit there for several hours, and you just are sitting there, like contemplating and going through this experience.
(04:40):
No one's really talking.
There's a stupid TV, like, news playing, and it's just dumb.
And I just felt like the awkwardness of that several people going through the same thing.
No one's really talking.
No one's barely looking into each other's eyes.
It's really weird.
(05:00):
And then you're going through this life-altering experience.
And I just, like, kind of felt sick, and I really wished for her to have a more beautiful experience than that And I thought to myself, like that pain of that experience for me was the catalyst because I saw like what it needed or I was just like, "I just wish it felt more homely or a bit more inspiring or a bit more like the gravity of this is so big and this can't be it.
(05:33):
This can't be it." I was like, "This can't be it." What would it take to have a little bit of color on the walls or like soft beautiful music playing or someone storytelling about something that would really inspire in this moment?
But something of a human touch to complement the treatment.
So as I really like to kind of like summarize, I wanna be a pioneer in advancing health using art because it's inevitable that humans are gonna have a physical, emotional, spiritual ailment of some type in their journey.
(06:12):
I want it to be supported by the humanity that is art.
It reminds us, there's hope, there's color, there's vibrancy, there's music, there's dance, and I feel like no matter what state you're in, but having that around you is stimulating something 'cause you're always getting input of stimulus And that input is very crucial to how you feel.
(06:38):
And that feeling then catalyzes itself into chemical reactions in the body, immune, you know, restoration, and you feel better, and you feel… when you walk into a, a club, and there's the best music playing, and you had a hard day at work, it's been a big week, but you walk in and then it's just like, ah, there's fun and there's life.
(06:58):
So I know that these things are very serious in a hospital setting, but do they have to be?
Like, do they actually have to be that way?
And I just started questioning like, "Why is it like this? Why is it so heavy?" And I visualize color, and I visualize soft lights, and I visualize music, and I visualize poets and storytellers, and I'm like, they've got several hours.
(07:26):
We could surely have something.
And then I guess the journey carried on and, you know, I was just so focused in getting her better and so focused in giving her my love that I really went down a rabbit hole of like discovering the trilogy that is the mind, body, spirit, and what caused cancer, what really caused things to be off balance in the body.
(07:51):
And I found out that 85 to 95% of all human diseases on this planet are from the environment, from what you eat, from what you think, from what you do, what you don't do.
That means only 15%, approximately, are hereditary, which means about 85% of people we could save if we changed the environment.
(08:15):
And that's what I wanted to do.
I wanted to create an environment where you walk in and it's just, it's easy.
It's easy to be, it's easy to be raw.
I want people to stop performing and pretending and- Take the mask off Take the mask off … leave it at the door Leave it at the door.
And you know, sometimes it's uncomfortable to be yourself, but I really value being myself more because I don't really care what another person thinks of me.
(08:40):
I care more to be healthy within myself.
Hats off to you, 'cause everything that you had aimed towards creating in this space- Mm … at Artful Yoga Gallery, I think you've achieved that.
Every- Mm … time that I've come into this space, there is a different energy.
(09:01):
Yeah.
But there's always a welcoming… for those listening, if you ever get a chance to come down, you need to, because you always have different artwork.
Yeah.
You're, um, highlighting amazing emerging artists from all walks of life.
Mm. I mean, I've, I've been in here and listened to music, and I've watched dance, and I've seen beautiful exhibitions.
(09:21):
Mm. I've seen firsthand when you've had, someone live painting over a whole day.
Yeah.
And people were also being part of that by the tapestry that was on the floor while they were painting.
Like, I've pretty much seen it all here I feel.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, and what a beautiful privilege and gift it is to be able to facilitate that, and you have definitely- Yeah.
(09:42):
Yeah, and continue to do that.
That's it.
And the added thing is my dream has come true.
Like, I got to make a space that I dreamt of sitting in that chemotherapy room, and it's my reality.
And this year we just collaborated with Alfred Health Hospital- Yaas They come in here- Full circle … they come in here, they deliver this New Perspectives College, which is about, like for example, next week the workshop is free.
(10:12):
All the workshops are free.
Next week is about how to understand what it means to be a carer and the person undergoing the tre- like, what are the nuances, how does a person that's caring for someone ill give themselves understanding?
'Cause you're focused on the other sick person- Mm … and what to do and how to… But you've got all this turbulence.
(10:35):
So understanding from the two perspectives.
So it's called New Perspective College.
Um, they're emerging school of the Alfred Health Hospital group, and this 2026, they started doing that college here.
They do all their workshops here.
And it's a great start.
Yeah, it's a great start.
(10:56):
And, you know, this is for her.
This is for her, and I really want this to have space in every hospital.
I want a room.
That's thinking too small.
I want a gallery in every hospital where there's art and people can go down and enjoy art.
Mm. That's easy.
Yeah.
(11:16):
We can do that.
Just takes one room, converted into something beautiful for all the patients and their carers, and the children, and anyone needing to support themselves, sit in art and be inspired about life.
And I think that is fundamental thing, right?
Yes.
Is that in a space where it can be doom and gloom in a hospital- Mm
(11:39):
but having that hope, that- Mm … overarching, you know-
Art ends up giving life it is, oh, I love this Hope gives life.
Hope gives life.
It does.
Art sparks that.
It does.
We used to sit around campfires, and sit and talk, and share stories, and dance and sing, and we would have rituals under the sun and the moon.
(12:09):
The cycles, we would honor the elements.
We would do it in, in the sea.
We would, you know, we would bathe, and we would be with river streams and nature.
Like, this was humanity.
That's who we are, and now we're too busy.
Now we're so disconnected, and now we're watching, like scrolling, scrolling.
Now we're watching things, like, being mimicked to us, uh, rather than watching reality.
(12:34):
It's like it's just a illusion that we're watching rather than reality, and art is reality.
This is real.
This is someone taking their… That's a soul that created all this artwork or created the dance form or the music.
That was a soul that you're listening to.
So when you hear the truth, when your truth hears the truth, I feel like that is real time transmission.
(13:03):
That's gospel.
You know, when you hear gospel in a choir and, and you get moved.
So that's why ho- hope is movement, like of the soul, and hope is, like, the biggest catalyst.
If you have hope, man, you have anything in the world.
Like, Nelson Mandela had hope 27 years in prison.
When he was being buried alive, he still had hope.
(13:24):
When he got out of prison, he had hope.
He pursued that hope and became the first Black president to reform many lives and many generations still.
Hope
You just need hope.
It's just- Well said Well said.
Everybody, you heard it here.
(13:45):
Right.
Now, as a curator- … I mean, you have obviously this space.
But as a curator, 'cause you're obviously, you have a lot of information I have to imagine, that you're, researching, doing your vetting, putting together- Mm … you know, events and, and trying to put the pieces together of how a particular event will vibe with certain musicians and certain dancers and gallery space and, and everything like that.
(14:14):
Mm. When you're creating and putting together something- … what does a creative space mean to you?
That's a great question.
A creative space is one made with intention.
Intention has the trifecta of heart, mind, soul.
(14:34):
You have to think of those elements.
You have to think of how to from the simplicity of, like, how you start, the breath you take before you hold the audience, to the cadence within you and the reasoning for every single word out of your mouth, intention.
And then I think beyond the intention, it's like how can I love this color?
(14:57):
These colors.
How can I… it's like a painting, you know?
If you do the primary colors in this order, it makes this.
And then this order makes that.
And then if you blur the lines, it creates this illusion.
So it's kind of like, well, this is this person's art, this is this person's art, and I see people as art anyway.
So I'm like, ah.
Like, for example, the South Asian scene.
(15:19):
So I'm from India, and I love culture.
The cultural aspect of being from these countries surpasses my, like, I'm just like, there's a plethora of knowledge and art and culture and human, kind of like, intrinsic parts of our society that are so rich.
And then you blend it with this other rich society and this other rich, like you know, cultural aspects and colors and- And traditions and- But, traditions.
(15:47):
Yeah.
But then when you blend them, it's like a mixed base, uh, race baby.
They said pretty.
And we just talk about this We were talking about this off, off camera.
Right?
Yeah.
And like, you are mixed race.
Mm. And being of one race and another race one culture, another cul- one art form and another art form, when you amalgamate it, I'm like, the scientist in me is just, I love it.
(16:15):
I love it.
And then I think I've always had a knack for look, looking at things and putting it together.
I just… This is really random, but I used to when I was a kid walk down the street, and I used to think I was gonna be a florist.
So I'd look at flowers, and I'd be like, "That would look good with that one." And I'd keep walking, and I'd be like, "Oh, if that would be…" And then I would imagine the bunch of flowers together, and that's like literally what I would do.
(16:38):
So now it's kind of like that's a metaphor for what I see now.
I'm like, "You're a flower, and you're a flower.
And your color and this color, and this smell and this smell, and this vibrancy," and I'm like, "That's what curation is." The art form is a story that I wanna tell.
So basically, curation is being able to tell that story with the right effects, the right amount of like layering of music or sound and, and light.
(17:03):
It just has to complement.
Yeah.
Curation is just complementing.
True, but it is a, it's an art form in itself.
It is.
Not everyone has the talent for it.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, obviously.
You are- She's like- And um- … "Not everyone can do what I can do." Well, no.
'Cause I've seen, I've seen.
(17:23):
I've just… I'm like, for example, you know, I'm a true Aries, so I'm very particular.
I love decorating.
I also think from the childhood experience, we were so, so, poor, and we didn't have a lot.
Mattresses is where we slept on the floor.
We didn't have a dining table for a long time.
(17:43):
We never had a couch.
We had mattresses.
And I remember hard rubbish.
I would pick up hard rubbish items, and I would arrange them, and I would restore them, and then I'd decorate the house.
You wouldn't even tell that we didn't have much 'cause my mom and I made it so cozy and beautiful
I'ma beep that table.
You're gonna beep that table.
Yeah.
But that in itself, I have spoken to other creative minds, and that visualization- Mm … where you can, like you were saying before, you can see the colors, you can see the placement, you can imagine be- without even lifting a finger what that would look like together.
(18:19):
Mm. That seems to be a common thread with quite a lot of creatives- Mm … where it's that visualization before you've even- Yeah … started the process.
Yeah.
Um, yeah.
Which is amazing.
Well, I think the visualization is from God.
It's from that intelligence, you know, whether it's your song, whether it's a beat, like a beat that you find just comes into your mind.
(18:47):
Whether it's any dance form, you get inspired.
You don't even know where how it's gonna, like, unfold, but you know that there's something there, and that's the tap, that's the, God nature of us all.
Like, we have this evocation of creativity and creation.
And so as creatives, we are tapped in, as they say, 'cause we're only creatives because we are part of the creator.
(19:13):
The creator in us we have a re- you know, there's a relational dialect happening.
I'm relating, I'm, like, feeling, sensing, you know?
That's why we're very sensitive, and we're very emotional.
We feel so much.
And then that's kind of like the… We're able to receive that information, and then we channel it into music or any art form, as you call it.
(19:37):
And that's what it is.
That is that's how we get it.
It's by being close to God.
And you can call God any name you want, but for me, there is a creation happening all the time, and we just have to kind of get the id- yeah, listen in.
Got to be open to listen.
Listen.
Listen in.
Gotta listen for it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(19:59):
Now, you've been doing this for a fair while now, but also you have a big life that you lead.
I'm curious if you've curated something in this space or even before that, is there something that you are most proud of creating?
Mm. And I'd love to know how it's come about.
(20:21):
I mean, the most proud moment for me is personal again, but every moment really has equal weight.
I do vividly remember the exhibition we did, Renewal, with photography, and you were part of it, right?
You came.
Were you doing photography as well in it?
I was helping.
Helping, yes.
Helping.
Yes.
And I remember that was profound, again, because- There were several cancer patients, and then they allowed us to step into their lives and take photographs of their story.
(20:53):
Some were moms, you know, some were grandparents, some were y- very young.
And I loved that because, again, it was like sitting here.
It was the couch where it's currently positioned, everyone in a circle.
We're having this conversation about hope.
And also because I really wanna launch the, I guess, a program which helps specifically cancer patients, but we're in the process of that.
(21:20):
I'm literally in talks with Alfred Health to start this, and I've … That was my dream from the Renu exhibition.
Takes me a little time to find the right people to work with.
That's a big one.
Even hospitals, like, you wanna be aligned.
And now that I'm working with Alfred Health, I was like, "That hospital is actually aligned.
I have to find out more with deeper layers." So everything has equal weight.
(21:45):
The Renu exhibition because I want to launch cancer treatment programs with art as like a- Foundation … supplement.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Foundation, something to supplement the treatment side.
That would be it.
But everything else is u- unique and significant in every milestone because it was involving someone's dream that I was part of.
(22:07):
Yeah.
There was something that you just mentioned there about the hospital- Mm … and about aligning- Mm … and I guess doing your due diligence- Mm … of making sure that you're really on the same page- Mm … to move forward with a project.
I wonder if that is a great segue into the challenges that you have a- as a creator- Yeah, come at me
(22:29):
as a curator.
Because as we all know, whether that be in our personal lives or even in a working situation, finding partnerships is half the battle.
Mm. You know, you don't wanna be conflicting at the same time with someone that you're meant to be on the same journey with.
Yeah.
And again, don't wanna lead the question or the answer, but what challenges you or what has challenged you in this process as, of, of being a curator?
(22:57):
People.
Yeah.
And scene.
That's it.
That's- And done.
Okay, cool.
Next question.
No, I'm kidding.
Enough said.
Yeah, people.
Yeah.
Damn, people come with a lot of stuff.
And, uh, as you amalgamate art, so art's liberated very, not in the box spectrum of the, you know, thinkers and creators.
(23:19):
So when you're outside of the box, it's- it's liberation and freedom, but it's also sometimes there's no boundaries and rules that people like to follow.
It's like- Have you met an artist?
Am I speaking to you?
Have you met an artist?
Am I speaking directly to the Virgo that likes that structure?
Structure.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(23:39):
Same.
Oh, God.
I love structure.
I don't like, I don't like coming in and last minute, "No, oh, can we just pop…" And I'm like, but I'm learning.
But yeah, the problem or the challenge has been that people don't always have, I guess, without a good understanding of the person and me explaining also my, the, my tastes, my likes, my kind of way of learning, my way of structuring projects, then people on different cadences miss each other.
(24:10):
I'm going too fast 'cause I can do things.
I'm g- I'm going from one project to another.
I'm fast.
Some people need to sit.
They wanna dissect.
They wanna go layer by layer by layer.
But first they wanna have five hours of chats, and I ain't got time for that.
And I'm a, I'm a fire sign also, so I, I want boom.
(24:32):
And somebody is earth.
They take their time.
They wanna settle i- yeah.
So it's learning those, um, reciprocal nature pathways of this is what that person needs, and this is what I need, and I'll understand you.
You'll understand me.
And then we'll meet hopefully somewhere in a balanced equation where I'll be slow for you here, 'cause that's really important, and you will be fast for me here, because that's really important.
(24:58):
And putting… It's like a piece of the puzzle.
You really have to fit the shapes.
You have to fit to another person sometimes.
They have to fit into you.
But without two people wanting or allowing themselves to say, "I'm gonna have to try and fit somewhere," you will not fit.
It won't line up.
All these projects Do you have, fr- from a very practical level- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm
(25:22):
is there a process that you follow as a curator?
Is there like a- Mm … um, a questionnaire or, like, do you have group calls with the people that you're collaborating with in a whole, or do you do it individually?
Individually.
Yeah.
Depends on the scale and how big or how much in- involved.
If I've done something a number of times, like events, like listening sessions, we just started that.
(25:47):
I kinda know it's a simple, basic, instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, me, room.
It's not a lot of the curation.
It'll be a lot more, getting to know the artist, what they need, how long they want for the set, what, what's involved in the set.
I also have discussions about safety.
S- nuances like, um, what do you need when you arrive?
(26:08):
How long time, of a time do you need?
What, do you need stops in between?
Do you want me to hold the speaking part 'cause you are the artist and you just wanna concentrate 'cause maybe you're not an extrovert, maybe you're an introverted artist and you don't really like to, "Hi, everybody. Welcome to…"
And no, they don't.
So I've learnt all of these things, and it's just about, um, I guess because I, perhaps in my old role, like I was a scientist.
(26:36):
So I worked with, and I was working in mining and engineering and energy, sorry.
And I had engineers, I had operational management, I had HR, I had health and safety, I had stakeholders, and I was the environment part, so all of these people, all of the stuff that they do for a power plant, I have to manage with them environmental aspects structurally or, , yeah, logistically or legally, right?
(27:02):
So all of these different brains and all of these different departments.
I think that really set me up 'cause I did that in my 20s for a decade, and so I, that really set me up of how to work with different types of people and what's important to them, and then help them help me.
I've really learnt that skill well.
(27:22):
And yeah, and I make sure that I'm helping you, but in helping you, you're helping me.
So I think it's a fine art, again, if I can use that word to, like, describe being able to learn people, not to manipulate them, but to really respect that when I get you and I love and value you to the degree that also you do for me, it's a reciprocal thing, but we'll be better.
(27:49):
I'm not gonna just go in and be like, "This is my space.
This is how we do it.
This is the T's and C's.
Sign the dotted line, and you have no say," which is a lot of other galleries and things like that.
I think flexibility, but not being taken for a- again, it's a reciprocal I understand you, you understand me, and we're really gonna be able to focus.
(28:10):
I think also I'm a bit straight up in terms of I'm gentle, but I'm straight up in terms of I don't like to waste time.
You know, let's not fluff about.
Let's not create drama.
What's the objective?
Yeah.
Let's not create drama where it's unnecessarily, like, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's a little bit of a dance between the practicality and the emotional c- intelligence.
(28:31):
And I also think that this is an ongoing journey for all of us, whether it's from a business perspective or from a personal perspective.
It's like we're constantly learning how to do it better.
Yeah.
How to listen more, how to hold space, how to, Like you said, once upon a time you probably didn't know all of the, the idiosyncrasies as required with- Yeah the tapestry of artists and how they work.
(28:55):
I did not.
And the nuances.
Like people just get upset and they just take their art and they just leave.
In the middle of the exhibition.
Yeah.
I've had that.
And not quite understanding the etiquette around- Right … how it all goes.
And then I- Which is- Exactly.
Yeah.
For those listening, if you haven't been to a gallery before, they usually put little stickers on them to say they're sold, and then you get to collect them at the end- End
(29:16):
of the date.
Uh-
That's right … people still need to see them even though they're sold.
Yes.
You don't get to take it home right away.
But also like then, uh, creating systems.
Yeah.
People, I think creatives need to understand that without using systems we have no structure.
Contracts, agreements, pre-agreements, , signing like, you know, waivers, liability, who's responsible, what are you gonna do if something goes wrong?
(29:41):
What if you, what are you gonna do if somebody wants to legally take action on something?
Education of all of these parameters or at least having someone in the know, very important.
Very, very, very, very important 'cause you will get screwed, and you will get taken on a ride, and that's why a lot of the artists that we see that are so famous and so rich have been ex- extrapolated off their art, and their art is owned actually by someone else, and they get a minority of the percentage rather than the majority of- the product.
(30:11):
So- I think there's a key point there that it doesn't matter where you are in your career- … and whether that be that you have your own business within the art sector or you are an artist yourself- Yep … I think there's a really strong focus that you need to build of t- of your, who is your team?
Who is your team?
Being who have you got on the books?
(30:33):
That doesn't mean- Mm … to me that you know, you're paying, I don't know, a monthly salary to somebody.
But, like, who is the legal representation?
Who can read a contract for you- Right … if you need it?
Right.
Who is your go-to for copyright?
Who's your go-to?
Like, have a bit of a directory for yourself as- That's right
a creator to go, okay.
And there are plenty of ways to get that.
(30:54):
I know from a music perspective- Mm … I mean, there's so many organizations.
There's, um, APRA AMCOS.
Mm. There's, um, Music Victoria.
Mm. Each of the states have their own- … bodies to help you- Yes, yes … with that stuff.
There's resources everywhere.
Yes.
But even as a entrepreneur, as a business owner, you know, a sole trader, you, yeah you, like, who's your accountant?
(31:15):
Who's your tax agent?
Who's your, yeah, who's giving you- Yeah … mentoring?
Who's… Yeah.
All of those things are so important.
Yeah.
'Cause otherwise sometimes I think this journey, we can, it's a lot that we're holding on our own, as you know.
Well, you don't know it- Well, you don't know what you don't know … until you find out the hard way.
I Really think entrepreneurship, anything artistry, like creative, you are an athlete.
(31:39):
You are an athlete.
You are playing an endurance game, a stamina game, a mental game, an emotional, spiritual game that you need to be well-equipped, and you need to have all the aptitude of your body, your mind, and your spirit.
And that, for me, is like you gotta train like an athlete.
Maybe not physically ex- you know, extensively, but you do.
(32:03):
You do.
You have to be able to… And I'm like, "These are the things that I think for the longevity of any career, especially as a freelance creative, your body and your mind is exactly what's gonna get you to the success that you s- " I heard this the other day, what it was, along the lines of the direct correlation to your ambition is your regulated nervous system
(32:34):
I was like- Yes.
Mm. Yeah.
My ambition and how I get that is directly related to my nervous system.
'Cause you ain't gonna be getting clients and securing deals and making friends and turning up and having a community if you are a wreck.
(32:54):
People that love you will be there for you, I hope.
But you're not gonna have the magnetism that, or the authenticity.
Authenticity is the magnetism.
You can't fake magnetism.
To be that vessel of, like, authentic, pure, whole person, that athlete mentality, like, I definitely think is very key.
(33:20):
And a lot of creatives don't work on themselves.
They roll out, think about what they're gonna do, never do it.
I'm like, "Go for a walk.
It will give you the catalyst.
Go for a run.
Breathe.
You know, do something." 'Cause it's like you gotta take the action before the action.
(33:40):
You gotta be the thing before the thing.
I think this is a great segue- Mm … into-
If you could give one piece of advice, one nugget of gold, what would it be?
First of all, I feel like the most important advice I can give anyone, and this is my advice
You have to know that you have this beautiful relationship with the creator.
(34:07):
And that creator, which is the life force around you, within you is the constant.
The constant.
And all of these things, whether you become the most elite, successful, famous, whatever, but if the vessel is hollow and you don't have anything to hold you, that will be, that will fall beneath your feet, like the weight of that.
(34:32):
Who am I?
What do I stand for?
What means something to me and why?
And then every decision will be based around that.
And that's your, like, business model, if you wanna call it.
That's like your life mo- model.
And so to be successful in anything, first you have to be successful in that relationship.
You don't even have to have a religious context.
I don't have a religious background in that sense.
(34:54):
I have a intrinsic background.
Like, I've really gotten to know myself deep.
And that's my advice.
Please know yourself deeply.
Don't excuse that for when there's an ailment in your body or things are just so bad that… Honestly, it's gonna be like a hero's journey.
It will be something so bad it will wake you up.
(35:17):
But that wake-up is your opportunity.
So if you're having a, a break down moment, it's your breakthrough moment, and that's the moment where you search for something of meaning.
And that, for me, was a search of my relationship, my love with God.
I was like, "I'm a miracle.
I'm held.
I'm loved.
I'm always loved." And that for me, I'm like, even if I get to things or not, even if I'm challenged by things or people don't see anything that I do, it actually doesn't make a difference intrinsically to me.
(35:50):
Because that's the thing that will break us, when we're, like, always searching.
Do you see me?
Did you like my song?
Did you like my thing?
Are you sharing my post?
Are you, like, are you turning up to my event?
Like these things will be so fleeting and, like, they will destroy you in those fleeting moments that the constant has to be something bigger than the fleeting temporary.
(36:11):
Oh, said.
Just- said … just saying.
Just saying.
You heard it here first, folks.
You heard it here first.
Yeah.
Now, if someone wanted to do what you do- Yeah … and develop their- Us against the door … I guess, their process as a creator- … as a curator, what resources, what would you recommend?
(36:37):
Have you done courses?
Have you read books?
Uh, there's a lot.
There's, I think the most important parts of becoming someone that does something of significance for their life, first is a disciplined life.
Without the discipline, you're not gonna go very far for very long.
(37:00):
It's gonna be fleeting.
So if I didn't have discipline, this place wouldn't uphold because I would've given up way before when it got really hard.
My rock bottom was even zero dollars but discipline.
I still got up every day.
I still did my, like, workout, went to the gym to have a shower.
You . But discipline.
Discipline and, like, the things that I do to keep me well, despite the challenges around you.
(37:24):
The second pocket, as I said before, some relationship.
You gotta have some relationship to yourself, some relationship and a faith that is bigger than your, yours from the temporary illusions, and that constant.
The third part is good people.
Choose your people.
Don't be quick from a glance or something that's flashy or someone that says all these wonderful things, but inside there's a resonance in you that's like I feel anxious."
"Hmm, I feel nervous." Um, yeah, that's the tri- that's like for me the three parts (37:53):
discipline, consistency, no matter what.
You stay… You keep going even if it's not working.
You keep going.
There's a discipline to you.
A relationship to yourself.
Great people.
'Cause all of those things, discipline will inevitably translate to learning and growth mindset and, you know, development and not giving up and being strong.
(38:19):
The faith will keep you anchored to the truth of, like, integrity and keep you really, really charismatic in your endeavors 'cause your spirit will be always… In my language we say, "Chordhi kala," which is the highest, remaining in the highest spirit.
Amen.
And the third is good people 'cause people will destroy your life if you don't choose the right people.
(38:44):
They could.
And that part of the parcel is you know, at 39, not married, no kids, but having such a fabulous life.
It's because I'm not choosing for haste and quick and I better respond to this biological clock or, like, society's expecta- No.
I'm just gonna discern my people.
And around me I see so much quality, and today I definitely had a moment in my meditation where I was just crying and looking at all the faces in my life.
(39:15):
So that's how you wanna go out too.
You don't wanna just be in your life to get to your artistry either.
You wanna get this experience of life and get to the end and be like, "I stayed true to myself. I had gr- great people around me. And I'm, I was in a badass body." That's the, I guess the whole thing.
It's not just about your product or your, like, output.
(39:37):
It's about but from beginning to end, did you do it well?
Yeah.
Said.
Mm. Well said.
Mm. Now, one last question for you.
Who would you want to come on the podcast and answer these questions, and why?
Next?
Yeah.
Come on the podcast.
Oh, I would love for you to interview Trick Singh.
(40:00):
Why?
The artist that I just showed you, the South Asian artist.
Why?
Because he is a genius at his art.
He is consistent.
He has such a love for his fans, like his followers, and his supporters, and his community.
(40:21):
He's a path maker.
He's a revolutionary
And he's humble.
Oh, what a great- So maybe on Tuesday night … fantastic artist.
Yes.
Yes.
I'll be like, "By the way, Liz just does this podcast." "By the way, I think you should…"
Imagine.
Imagine.
But anything's possible.
Oh my goodness.
I've had the best time chatting with you.
(40:42):
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for coming through The Creative Door.
Yeah.
For those listening, you don't stalk Neha in the consensual way on- Yeah
socials- Socials … and see the gallery I will come for you.
I mean, that's just how a real one does it.
You're not.
No.
Yeah.
Uh, you need to get down here.
You've always got beautiful events happening.
(41:04):
Yeah.
There's always something beautiful- Yeah … and inclusive, so yes.
And my dream is that we will be fully funded one day.
Majority of all that we do as AYG is donation option, all of them.
But I wanna get to a space where everything is donation option, so it's just a no-brainer.
Yeah.
If you can, you can.
(41:24):
But you still get to.
Yeah.
You still get to.
That's really what's gonna help heal our world.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exactly.
Exactly.
Thank you so much.
Beautiful.
Thank you so much
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