hi, i’m yashna
"what drives you?" – simply, the inherent need to communicate and connect with the world around me. life’s fleeting nature has taught me that beauty is more than just perception. the intensity of the natural world resonates deeply with who i am, compelling me to capture and immortalise that beauty in a way that's uniquely my own.
who are you?
i’m a 26 years old mauritian, and now based in edinburgh, scotland. i trained as a scientist which is my “full time job” but i’m also an artist, writer, photographer, storyteller, and figure skater—none of which pays the bills.
if, like me, you’re someone with multiple passions, you’ve probably heard the advice to “niche down.” but i don’t subscribe to the notion that we should be defined by one thing, and it has to be the thing that pays the bills.
for me, creating in all its forms — art, words, images, or movement—is how i express who i truly am. my day job may describe what i do, but it can never aptly capture who i am.
can i create without feeling the crushing weight of societal expectations forcing me into the rat race to commodify everything i produce? can i practise what i was born to do; what we’re all wired to do; simply for the joy of capturing the beauty this world has to offer, without the deafening tick of the clock.
what is the snowdrop gallery?
snowdrops are so captivating. they’re so fragile, and yet so brave; being the first flowers of spring that dare brave the cold, to soften the winter landscapes. they are a symbol of hope and resilience.
for many years, i’ve resorted to art as a means to survive, so much so that it's now become as essential to me as breathing. the snowdrop gallery is a celebration of this softness and resilience. in this gallery, i include carefully curated pieces i’ve created; each one seeking to honour that softness, reflecting the beauty that persists even in the face of adversity. and what better way to do that than through the dramatic scottish landscapes.
in addition, my style is very versatile as demonstrated in my portfolio that you can find here. i do accept commissions. so, if you’ve got a project in mind, feel free to contact me.
why do you do it?
i don’t remember the first time i picked up a paintbrush but it’s something i’ve always gravitated towards as a child. although i’ve often abandoned it throughout my life, i always return to it because of my innate need to communicate who i am to the world. my art is born from that desire, coupled with my ability to capture the beauty around me.
when i’m overwhelmed by big emotions, often, alone in those feelings, i find it difficult to create. but when i’m feeling euphoric or in awe of the world’s beauty—when light hits a scene in a way that feels uniquely mine to witness—i feel a deep urge to capture it, immortalise it and share it. in the words of chris mccandless, “happiness is only real when shared.”
when we witness dramatic skies and humbling peaks, we never complain that it’s too overwhelmingly much, we revel in the intensity and beauty, so why we do that to one another will always baffle me. t
he intensity, drama, and softness in my art reflect my attempt to communicate my inner world in a way that would move others and deepen our connection to the world around us. intensity in the way we feel about life is an incredible gift to have.
i hope my work moves you as much as the beauty of the world moves me. if you can’t witness these moments in person, i hope my art brings them to you in a way that resonates deeply. thank you for following my journey as i share pieces of myself in the best way i know how.
there is beauty in the darkness and there is beauty in the light; none without the other, they coexist in a beautiful harmony.