You’re an award-winning artist, working primarily with painting and embroidery. Can you tell us how you got started as an artist?

I have always been inclined to the Arts, whether it be music or visual arts. I was lucky to have parents that gave me the space and encouragement to pursue my passion for the arts, so the process of becoming an artist happened fairly organically. 

My use of paint and/or embroidery is largely guided by the story I am trying to tell. I have grown up as a traditional oil painter and a large portion of my early works are portrait paintings. A few years ago, I had an urge to experiment with embroidery and it was a medium that I was innately captured by. The materiality of thread and the act of stitching is something very meditative for me and I am always exploring new ways in which I can use it in conjunction with my painted works. 

You’re behind the gorgeous cover artwork for Growing Up Indian in Australia. How did this job come about? 

Aarti reached out to me last year after seeing some of my work online and asked if I would be open to creating the cover for the book. I was immediately excited by the idea as lot of my work explores issues surrounding Indian identity within an Australian context. We had a long chat one evening about what the book was about, some of the stories being told and the vision she had. It didn’t take much convincing to say yes! 

Can you walk us through the creative process for this artwork? How does it reflect the content of the book – a collection of vibrant, moving and diverse stories of shape-shifting between cultures?

The design of the cover draws inspiration from my deep appreciation for the intricate artistry of Indian miniature painting and the captivating allure of Indian matchbox designs. I knew from the outset that I wanted to use iconography that paid homage to the intertwining narratives of India and Australia depicted within the book. The elements I chose draw inspiration from the iconography prevalent in Indian miniature art, encapsulating the essence of cultural fusion celebrated within the stories. The vibrant colours are inspired by the captivating artwork adorning matchboxes across India during the early 1900s. These small canvases intricately depicted pivotal moments in Indian history and culture and I sought to capture their essence to evoke the spirit of the narratives within this book, which serve as a seamless extension of that rich cultural tapestry within an Australian context.

What excites you about Growing Up Indian in Australia?

It’s just so fulfilling to be a part of a project that is centred on examining Indian identity through a diasporic lens. My experience of being an immigrant  to Australia is an ongoing one and it’s one that will perpetually be embedded within me. When I moved to Australia at the age of 13, I began a subconscious process of surrendering all parts of my Indian identity in order to fit in and survive. I would colour my hair so it looked less dark, I put coloured contacts in my eyes, I adopted the Australian accent and only preserved friendships with white people. All this was done in order to survive within a context in which I was very much an “other”. Since that time, I have begun the slow process of unravelling the multitude of identities I inhabit and finding a sense of solace. I would have given anything to have read a book like this ten years ago and to understand the universality at the heart of the diasporic experience.

What’s next for you?

There is an awful lot happening in the next year or so! I am exhibiting a selection of new work at Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne in July, working on a few commissions and also creating pieces for an International exhibition in early 2025. Amongst all that, I am moving from Perth to Melbourne at the end of the year so it’s an exciting time both personally and professionally. 

 

Read the previous instalment of Behind the Book, a Q&A with the director of Willy Lit Fest, Emily Westmoreland.

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