ABOUT ME
Photo: Marie Lagesse
I was born in Mauritius on 7 August 1968, into a family that lit the spark of art in me early. My parents were my first and most passionate encouragers.
I am a self-taught painter. I learned by watching, by absorbing the work of those who came before me. I picked up oil painting in 1986, and over the years found my way through acrylics, watercolour, pastel, ink, charcoal, and engraving on copper and zinc. Studying graphic art sharpened my sense of composition and ultimately gave shape to what would become the "Zafer" style — a visual language I consider my own unique contribution to Mauritian art.
The Zafer style began to emerge fully around 2003, born from a simple but irresistible question. I had long been fascinated by Van Gogh's swirling brushwork — the spirals of Starry Night, the near-geometric energy of Dandelion Meadow — and I found myself wondering: what would a painting look like if those marks were distilled to their purest form? The answer became circles, spirals, triangles, squares, lines, and dotted textures — bold, joyful, endlessly repeating. Australian First Nations painting has also been a quiet but lasting influence, its ancient dot-work resonating deeply with my own approach. The Zafer style is not a destination. It is a living, evolving adventure — one that I hope brings as much joy to those who see it as it brings to me in the making.
My first solo exhibition was held in 1996 at the Max Boullé Gallery in Rose-Hill, Mauritius. Encouraged by the response, I went on to exhibit in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2022, and most recently in 2025, where I was invited to show thirty Zafer paintings at the Hennessy Park Hotel.
Painting is, for me, far more than a creative practice — it is a form of healing. I live with mental health challenges, and the canvas has become one of the most honest and reliable spaces I know. The repetitive shapes ground me in the present. The vivid colours bring calm to a restless mind. Through the act of painting, I have found a way to process emotions that words cannot always reach, to transform inner turmoil into something ordered, beautiful, and hopeful. The Zafer style is both my escape and my anchor.
Since June 2025, I have been an ambassador for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, an initiative that raises awareness and support for people living with non-visible conditions. This cause is close to my heart. By sharing my own journey — through both my paintings and my voice — I hope to play a small part in building a more compassionate and inclusive world.
