Tomás Sánchez & Avant Arte

In conversation, Tomás Sánchez sheds light on the spiritual foundations of his practice and the inspiration behind our latest collaboration.

What inspired you to pair these pieces?

In this new collaboration, two pieces are connected by a golden atmosphere that evokes a specific time of day. In both works, trees form arches that are reminiscent of temples. While one piece depicts a waterfall and the other shows a contemplator observing a meditator, both convey a sense of temple.

Do they reflect a specific time of day?

I treasure the hours of sunrise and sunset each day. At sunrise, I engage in my first meditation as the sun begins to rise, and at sunset, I retreat to the terrace of my home to reflect on the twilight. This brings me into a meditative state. I appreciate that golden atmosphere that symbolises the transition from day to night and from night back to day. I believe that both moments of the day hold significance for human beings, representing beginnings and endings to which we are all connected.

Are rituals an important part of your daily life?

My rituals align more closely with everyday life, resembling those familiar to many people. In my meditative practice, I sing the Guru Gita daily – a sacred chant performed in all the ashrams of my meditation lineage. My main ritual involves using a bit of incense, lighting a candle, and meditating. Afterward, I always take some time to reflect on my meditation experience. Reflecting on what I experienced during meditation enhances my understanding and helps to solidify that positive experience within my emotions, making it part of who I am. Additionally, writing about the experience also helps deepen my understanding.

It's clear that meditation forms the foundation of your life and work. How has your connection to it deepened over the years?

I began practicing meditation in 1970, following the teachings of the Great Master Paramahansa Yogananda, and I attended a centre – still existing in Havana – of Yogananda's Self-Realisation. At the same time, I developed an interest in other branches of Indian philosophy, such as Tantra, Vedanta, and Kashmir Shaivism. In 1990, I discovered the Siddha Yoga meditation tradition in Mexico. It felt like I had come home; within that meditation lineage, I found many answers to my questions. My practice deepened and became more consistent.

Since 1970, meditation has been central to my life; not a day passes without me dedicating some time to it, and on some occasions, several times daily. It is an integral part of my life and a source of inspiration for my painting. For me, art is meditation, and it's interesting because both Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism regard art as a meditative act.