The "SaY" Magazine
"SaY" it with a Picture: Be your own sculptor
By Sanika Daga

A particular image of how we are supposed to dress, talk, love and who we are supposed to be is imprinted on the front lobe of our brain, which makes us judge others, who do not match that image. We tend to judge almost everything from our perspective, resulting in a world of pretence. So, we don’t give people a chance to show us who they really are.
This concept behind my artwork is based on this thought. 75-80% people carry the feeling of “being left-out and insecure” and they want to please everyone just to fit someone else’s image. And to all of those people out there, I would like to say, don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t deserve the life you have, don’t let them make you feel worthless because YOU ARE NOT. Reach out to people who can help you, don’t keep those feelings bottled up because that’s not going to help anyone, most importantly YOURSELF. Just because we are all different doesn’t mean that we all are not beautiful. You are the only one who can decide the worth of your beauty.
I vaguely had a thought about this piece but to give it more substance I carried out a small survey. I asked people to tell me the first five words that pop into their heads when they hear the word ‘human’. I’m so glad people were honest and cooperative. It truly helped.
I then took, the features of a face and changed their placement to symbolize that people can look different and yet be beautiful. The moustache and beard are to show that it’s fine for girls to have facial hair and the lipstick is to show that it’s okay for anyone to wear makeup if that’s what makes them feel comfortable. The blue stamp that reads “ACCEPT ME” is to show, how one should naturally be – their OWNSELF and not change for others, just to be accepted and included.
It’s time for society to start accepting different people because each individual is SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL. And if they can’t accept you for you, then it’s for them to come out of their own bubble. Do what makes you happy. Don’t let anyone sculpt you into a person that you don’t want to be. BE YOUR OWN SCULPTOR.

Sanika Daga is a multi-faceted 13 year old with interest in art, music and sport. She studies at Dhirubhai Ambani International School. She began performing and showing her love for art at age 7. Over these past years she has sung in many concerts and will continue to do so. She is still discovering herself as an artist and wants to spread hope and happiness through her art and music. Most of her art work is visible on her instagram page-@sanikadaga_arts