HOBBIES

Art and Galleries

I am a frequent visitor to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and various other museums, where I lose myself in their collections. The Impressionists hold a special place in my heart—there’s something magical about the way they capture light and movement. However, I’m equally captivated by Renaissance masters like Rembrandt, whose technical brilliance and emotional depth never cease to amaze me. Beyond painting, I have a deep appreciation for sculpture, finding beauty in how artists work with three-dimensional form and space.

What fascinates me most about art is the stories paintings tell. I love examining themes like memento mori and understanding the symbolism embedded in each work. The techniques used and subjects that were painted at any given time provide a snapshot into what civilization was like and what people valued. Art offers invaluable insight into the painter’s or subject’s life, portraying their values and beliefs. Each painting is a window into another era, another mind, another way of seeing the world.

I also create art myself, working across multiple mediums. My favourite are watercolour and acrylic, though I equally love sculpting with clay and experimenting with paint and alcohol-based markers. Creating art allows me to express myself in ways that complement my more analytical work in statistics, offering a balance between the quantitative and the creative.

See some of my works here…

Ballet

As a rhythmic gymnast, I have a deep appreciation for ballet, and I attend live performances whenever possible. Having performed myself, I understand the dedication and artistry required to convey emotion on stage. There’s something extraordinary about watching dancers communicate complex feelings through movement alone—the joy, sorrow, passion, and struggle brought to life through their bodies. The precision, grace, and emotional power of ballet resonate deeply with my own athletic pursuits.

My favourite ballet is probably Spartacus. The dramatic storytelling, powerful choreography, and emotional intensity of the performance never fail to move me. The athleticism required, combined with the artistic expression, represents everything I find compelling about the intersection of sport and art.

Music

I am also a great admirer of music, in particular classical and jazz music are constants in my life. Among classical composers, I’m drawn to Bedřich Smetana, Sergei Prokofiev, and Antonín Dvořák—their ability to weave emotion into symphonic form is extraordinary. George Gershwin’s jazz compositions bridge the classical and jazz worlds beautifully, and I find his work endlessly inventive.

Whenever possible, I attend live concerts, as there’s nothing quite like experiencing music performed in person. The energy of a live performance creates a connection between the performers and audience that recordings simply can’t replicate.

Literature

Books have always been my refuge—a way to immerse myself in different worlds and perspectives. I share a name with Margaret Atwood, whose work I deeply admire, but my literary tastes span continents and centuries. I love analyzing the social commentary in Jane Austen’s novels, unpacking the psychological depths in Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Leo Tolstoy’s works, and exploring the existential themes in Franz Kafka’s writing. Charles Dickens’s vivid characters and the Strugatsky brothers’ speculative fiction also fascinate me beyond description.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t also indulge in murder mysteries and adventures—Agatha Christie, Alexandre Dumas, Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s tales provide the perfect escape. There are certainly many more authors and books I haven’t mentioned here, but these represent the core of what draws me back to reading again and again.

Nature and the Outdoors

I adore spending time in nature whenever the weather permits. Going on hikes or visiting various gardens helps clear my mind and brighten my mood, offering a necessary respite from the intensity of training and studying. There’s something restorative about being surrounded by trees, fresh air, and the natural world—it provides perspective and reminds me of the beautiful world in which we live.

Whether I’m walking through botanical gardens, hiking forest trails, or simply sitting in a park, time spent outdoors rejuvenates me both mentally and physically. Nature offers a different kind of performance, one that’s constantly changing with the seasons, the weather, and the time of day. These moments of connection with the natural world are essential to maintaining balance in my busy life.

When I travel, I love exploring historical monuments and architecture. I’m particularly drawn to churches, cathedrals, and ruins—not only for their spiritual significance but for the artistry and craftsmanship they represent. These structures tell stories of the communities that built them, reflecting centuries of faith, ambition, and artistic achievement. Walking through ancient churches, I’m always struck by the intricate details: the stained glass windows filtering colored light, the soaring vaularies, the sculptures and frescoes that have survived for generations. Each monument is a testament to human creativity and devotion, offering a tangible connection to history. Exploring these sites allows me to step back in time and appreciate the cultural heritage that has shaped our world.