about
ram di keli
ram - the divine / ek - oneness / eternal truth / nature
keli - blossom / a jasmine flower bud
ramkeli in its literal sense translates to divine blossoms. it is also the name of a raag (musical composition), used to evoke feelings of triumph regardless of circumstance. in poetry, ramkeli is, at times, used to express the multifaceted relationship of student and teacher. both disciplined and free, both wise and compassionate. all of life is the guru (teacher) and us curious ones, its sikhs (student). an inspected life therefore, becomes the ultimate teacher.
the logo primarily consists of my birthmark, in colours that reflect my essence and a reminder of this world-ocean. subtly as a part of ‘i’ in ‘ramkeli’, is a symbol commonly associated with the insignia of our tenth guru. a reminder that all i am is through His grace. it is also not-so-secretly in my brother’s handwriting, he always knew that he and the creator were One.
ramkeli is a creative playground where i enjoy experimenting with different artistic processes and ideas, combining contemporary and traditional, driving towards precision and not perfection, and ultimately sharing it. i also enjoy word-play, (ek)xploring different forms of architecture, searching for the right shade of blue and pursuing passion and purpose till they are one.
though inspired by sikh heritage, culture and faith, ramkeli aims to be universal in nature.
i believe i am neither the art nor the artist, but an instrument for creations to manifest. with grace, may we both experience the divine within through these blossoms.
gur simran kaur
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ramkeli and all that it is, is dedicated to you my sweet boy - Gur Sevak Singh Khalsa. always in your sweet memory and love for creation. through your kind spirit and age-less wisdom, may my lifetime as your little sister be dedicated to learning the lessons you teach, creating through your grace and serving with your guidance. till we meet again.
thank you for your kindness
it all began with...
A blunt crayon, a jumbo colouring book and triangle shaped pencils that were my childhood companions (especially when I fought with my brothers). Some pages of lines and shapes were filled with careful colour precision, and most of the other pages, colouring out of the lines, painting the sky green and the grass blue, adding a flower where I thought it should be. That was the magic I found in art, that I could create my own environment, choose the palette, and feel like I belonged. I would recreate my dreams, though I often wonder if my art makes my dreams or do my dreams make my art?
Moving on from crayons, to intricate pen doodles in my teenage years (confession: this is what happens when you sit at the back of the class), to paints and canvases as I thought it was the only way an artist can be an artist. There was always a hunt to try something new, which positively resulted in a wide range of art; from ceramics, sewing, model-making, photography, t-shirts, bookbinding, calligraphy, music albums, wedding cards, digital m(edit)ations and at present, graphic design. I am constantly expanding my vocabulary for art (and puns), the lack of focus gives me the freedom to (ek)xplore.
Converting my passion into academics, I pursued a path in Architecture after my ‘O’ Levels, from a Diploma to a Degree and presently, holding a Masters in Architecture (phew! those were a lot of years). Architecture to me is expressing empathy in humanity, marrying form and function, the conscious and unconscious. It is not only about designing a structure but an environment and a way of being; a catalyst for impacting the way people ideate, interact and live.
Experiencing the Divine within - a simple prayer, to create purposefully through art and architecture.
