Studio 88 Artist Residency is delighted to welcome Rebecca Banerjee, also known as Chandana, a multidisciplinary artist, actress, and energy healer whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, trauma healing, and creative embodiment. With over two decades of experience in the performing arts and a deep commitment to holistic wellness, Rebecca brings a unique and powerful voice to Studio 88—one that channels both stage presence and spiritual sensitivity.
As an actress, Chandana began her career at 19 and has performed in both theatre and film. As a healing arts practitioner, she works with Reiki, chakra balancing, sound therapy, and writing to support personal and collective transformation. Her residency at Studio 88 will deepen this integrative practice, exploring how performance, voice, and ritual can restore connection and reawaken the body’s inner wisdom.
Artist Statement
My work lives at the intersection of healing, energy, and creative expression. Rooted in Reiki, sound, and storytelling, my practice explores how trauma—especially intergenerational, gendered, and cultural—lives in the body, and how art can help us transmute it.
I create workshops and spaces not just to “teach,” but to hold—to offer sacred containers where deep emotional truth, silence, and voice can coexist. Inspired by thinkers like Bessel van der Kolk and Dr. Gabor Maté, I see creative expression as a portal: a way to return to our bodies, remember who we are, and reclaim our stories.
Much of my current focus is on women’s trauma stories—those shaped by lineage, race, class, and silence. Whether through a sound bath, a poem, or a reimagined fairy tale, I aim to offer spaces for emotional release, ancestral reconnection, and joy.
As a facilitator, I am not here to lead or fix—I am here to open space. To walk beside those ready to meet themselves fully, creatively, and energetically.
Rebecca’s practice is grounded in extensive training and a lived passion for performance, ritual, and healing. As a Reiki Master, she has worked with individuals facing anxiety, cancer, insomnia, depression, and trauma. Her sessions often incorporate Tibetan sound bowls, crystals, breathwork, and multi-deck oracle readings.
She holds multiple certifications in yoga, including, Kundalini Yoga (Levels 1 & 2) – London and Copenhagen, Hatha Yoga – Hridaya Yoga Centre, France (2024) and Yin Yoga – 50-hour online training.
Her diverse experiences include volunteering at Shambala Gatherings in Sweden, working in a Buddhist monastery in Germany, and long-standing service with Osho Leela communities. She has facilitated women’s circles and hopes to one day lead cacao ceremonies, ecstatic dance, and sound healing journeys herself.
Chandana also has a strong background in journalism, arts writing, and direction. She held her own byline at Eastern Eye and Asian Times, where she interviewed artists and reviewed films. Her theatre credits include directing The Tempest, Roberto Zucco, and The Shallow End, and producing her own short film Why?, for which she also acted and managed production.
Alongside her artistic path, Chandana has worked professionally in operations, office management, and property management, reflecting her grounded approach to holding space and nurturing community.
While in residence at Studio 88, Chandana will lead her signature workshop series titled “Align & Create – A Healing Series for the Body, Energy & Story.” This trauma-informed, creative healing journey blends Reiki, chakra activation, sound therapy, expressive writing, and intuitive art. The series is especially attuned to women’s stories—those shaped by silence, dislocation, or intergenerational pain.
Each session will include: grounding meditation and intention setting, sound bath and Reiki-infused chakra balancing, writing prompts and poetic storytelling, intuitive art-making and group sharing and closing rituals. Participants will explore personal and ancestral themes, with variations that include chakra vocal toning, narrative rewriting, and embodied performance. Art materials and healing tools will be provided.
Chandana also intends to explore a performance-led outcome as a culmination of her residency—bringing together voice, ritual, and storytelling in an embodied final presentation. She will connect with other Studio 88 artists to explore possible collaborations, exchange ideas, and create collectively.
Beyond structured programming, Rebecca looks forward to grounding herself in Chiang Mai’s natural and cultural environment—practicing yoga, swimming, eating healthy food, and absorbing the artistic energy of the city. This time will also allow her to refine and complete her workshop series, creating a replicable model she can offer globally. Her residency at Studio 88 marks an important milestone in this journey: a place to root, to create, and to remember.
Read more about Chandana on her website https://chandana-heals.com/
Studio 88 is accepting applications on an on-going basis. Check out our residency program and apply now.
Studio 88 Artist Residency 