MONOLISA
The first step for anyone in creating art is to observe, said Ms Chandrasekaran Mohanapriya.
The 40-year-old educator was surprised to bag second prizes in Tamil poetry and Tamil short story categories at the Golden Point Awards (GPA), a creative writing competition, on Dec 2.
While speaking about her works, she said the basis of artistic creations is “taste”, and that she ought to be her “own first critic” in the process.
“Any form of art or writing should be close to reality which the readers can easily connect with,” she said.
“The most beautiful creative themes are hidden in the mundane things that we pass by every day. To locate them, greater attention needs to be given to them.”
Established in 1993 by the National Arts Council, the creative writing competition is open to writers who have not published a full-length solo work in the genre they are contesting.
Ms Mohanapriya, who won for her Cloud-wrapped Bridges And Other Poems, and short story titled The Ephemeral Impressions (Nanavili Pimbangal), was one of 44 writers across English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil languages who were recognised at an awards ceremony that was held at The Arts House.
Cash prizes of $6,000, $4,000 and $2,000 were awarded to the first-, second- and third-prize winners respectively across all four languages in the short story and poetry categories, as well as translated English short stories – a new category this year.
Winners also received a certificate and a chance to participate in a mentorship programme, with first-prize winners receiving a trophy too.
Ms Baskaran Ganga, who bagged the top prize in the Tamil poetry category for her submission Whirl Tea And Other Poems, said she writes in a way that captures the “unplanned, organic flow of my thoughts”.
“Only then will readers be able to relate to it,” said the Ministry of Education employee.
Housewife Priya Rajeev, 41, who achieved first place in the Tamil short story competition for her work Death By Agony, said: “I started writing a few years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic. I feel like I’m on the right track, and this award has given me hope.”
