By Surjit Singh Flora

Art is the medium of communication, just as speaking. What motivates an individual to engage in conversation? For the community? For the purpose of conversation? Humans engage in communication to connect and exist. Artists engage in their craft to sustain their existence. Despite the invaluable value of their creations to society, artists do not create them for societal benefit. They engage in this behaviour because it is their only viable option. In this context, an obstructed artist effectively ceases to exist. Depriving a civilization of artists ultimately leads to its demise.
I had the opportunity to meet Jaswant Singh, an internationally acclaimed artist, educator, and published author who is known for the spiritual elements that permeate his work. Over the past 45 years, he has dedicated himself to his craft, pouring heart and soul into each creation. Numerous international publications and TV programs have featured his art, and private collections worldwide have acquired his paintings. His dynamic style suggests that nothing is static, and while his art is grounded in spiritual themes, his modernist approach distinguishes him from others exploring similar motifs.
Singh earned a Fine Arts degree in Painting from the Government College of Art in Chandigarh, India, and has won numerous awards at national and international art exhibitions. In the early 1980s, he moved on to teach at Gov’t Polytechnic College Ambala, India. Before migrating to East Africa, he made his mark by creating murals in several five-star hotels in Kathmandu, Nepal. In Kenya, he developed a passion for depicting African wildlife. Eventually, he immigrated to the United States, where his artistic journey continued.
In New York, Singh’s paintings flourished, often focusing on the richness of Punjabi cultural heritage and the spiritual legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Numerous art exhibitions on local, national, and international stages showcased his works. Through his involvement with art organizations, such as the Portrait Society of America, he maintained a strong connection with the New York art community.
Since relocating to Canada, Singh has actively collaborated with South Asian TV channels and media houses. As a published author, his books have garnered praise from renowned critics. He has organized several art exhibitions, highlighting the work of Punjabi artists across Canada. Galleries, museums, and private collections worldwide hold Singh’s paintings, and he has exhibited his art in India, Nepal, Kenya, the UK, the USA, and Canada.
Currently, Jaswant Singh resides in Brampton, Ontario, where he paints from his cozy home-based studio. There, he continues his artistic journey, organizing exhibitions and nurturing the Punjabi art community in Canada.
During a conversation with him at his Brampton home over the weekend, he asserted that humans possess an innate talent, akin to a divine gift. While dedication and effort can lead to remarkable achievements in any art form, true creativity blossoms when we connect with our inner selves. This connection not only enhances our natural abilities but transcends them, allowing us to unlock the full extent of our potential.
He said that through the delicate interplay of colours, he unlocks my imagination and creates a world of his own, all while relishing the sounds of unheard melodies. In this world, paths and those who traverse them transform into mere lines and specks of colour—a vision uniquely his own.
As an artist, he deeply believes that innate talent is a blessing from God. Technical mastery can lead to outstanding heights, but creativity that originates from an inner connection elevates this talent to something extraordinary, even supernatural, enabling one to reach the pinnacle of their potential.
“To soothe his soul, he said, he meditates through painting; and paint through meditation.”
He creates in a blissful state, where painting becomes his faith and his meditation—a sacred act through which he experiences spiritual fulfillment.
Regrettably, he voiced his concerns about the current era’s lack of awareness regarding art and artists. It seems that the arts might not receive the appreciation they deserve today, possibly due to various factors such as digital distractions like social media, a focus on profit over creativity, limited access to art education, shifting cultural values, an abundance of content options, and reduced support for arts programs.




