Interviewed

Recently i was e-interviewed on this Yahoo Group Creativegarh. It was a kind of get to know one another scenario.

The interviewer is Navin Pangti and i thought some of the questions he posed were really worth pondering over. Thus the post.

Creativegarh: What does being 'creative' mean to you?

Me: Being creative to me means allowing my neurons to weave magical pictures in my head... to connect afresh each day, giving me insights, ideas, answers and inspiration. Being creative to me is: Finding answers, posing questions and crafting things of beauty, meaning and value to me.

CG: Can you give us a brief overview of your life as a creative person?

Me: Wow, some question that! :) Brevity, hmm...

Well, I've always felt like a creative being. My mom noticed that about me early on and encouraged me to colour and draw and make things by hand. The mechanics of things interested me, as in how one can make the windows and doors of a doll house open and shut, and how things (2D material like fabric) can be moulded to fit a 3D form. Fabric, colour, light and motion have always attracted me. I think colour, light and movement are the earliest things we are designed to respond to. I've always been something of a recluse, though most would not recognize me as that, and design, art, science and stuff like making up song lyrics as I sang, kept me absorbed.

One thing that I can't do with gay abandon is paint. A blank canvas used to scare me growing up. That is something I need to give another shot. I have the deepest regard for artists who have found their voices and means to self-expression in this medium.

The progress to designing clothing was very instinctive, and before I knew what it was termed, I had decided I would like to work with moulding fabric as per my wishes, pretty much all my life. NIFT happened and I was onto and into a career in Fashion Design.

More than fashion, it is design that engages me. The so-called glamour and clamour don't leave much of an impression on me. And at one point during my career this mindlessness almost made me question whether the industry as it is, is a space I am meant to be in. Presently I'm past that milestone on introspection highway.

CG: What are some of the ways, besides your main, chosen creative field, that you express your creativity?

Me: Well with my love of colour and light, the visual media, photography is something I really enjoy. In the coming months I plan to upgrade to a better camera, which will allow me greater functionality as well as quality to creating images.

Then there is interior design... which I've mainly explored in my own home. From choosing colours and deciding on colour-blocking techniques, to designing beds, closets, seating spaces and more, I've done a good many projects.

I love designing shoes, and was solely into that during Hindi lessons in school. As part of my career I've done some shoe design work as well, but I'd love to do more and have people wear and enjoy my designs.

A recent love is designing costume jewelry... but more about that baby as it develops.

I've done a fair bit of writing, mainly on fashion and style for publications like Rediff.com and tips4me.com, to the Complete Wellbeing Magazine. I write a fashion blog at http://styleasylum.blogspot.com.

Oh and I've been dancing since childhood, from when I'd practice and put on little dance items for my parents... lol, patient them, and later choreographing and performing dance pieces with friends. I've learnt a little bit of both classical and other forms, and instruct in one which is a form of contemporary dance. I teach a batch of architecture students as part of their extended curriculum apart from my own intermittent workshops.

CG: What or who are some of the inspirational influences on your creativity?

Me: I can't say there are any one or two influences. I think my real inspiration comes from a divine source; from some space within, the universe perhaps! That is how I know it to be. In the outer world, anything unexpected and out of the ordinary can be the spark. The colours in a painting, origami motifs, a culture, fabrics and textures, all things natural; just about anything can be the springboard.

CG: What are 'those little things you do' to keep yourself in the creative flow everyday?

Me: One essential I cannot go without is my practice of Pranayams which I 'religiously' do every day. Another is to keep my funny bone in shape. Laughter keeps the mind and heart open and lighter. On particularly stressful days I get myself a dose of Mr. Bean before bed. I will sometimes address a project in positive terms like 'the awesome Ladakh travelogue', or 'the gorgeous floral collection' in my head and keep the notes I made on it close at hand. These inspire and keep me on track. Staying organized helps a lot as well.

CG: Have you found ways to integrate your creative and 'working' time and tasks and if so, how?

Me: Well, working in fashion helps to a great extent, (I get to sketch and colour and work with beads and baubles!), but fulfilling my varied creative interests can sometimes be a challenge. As I realize and read, the work-life balance is the biggest conundrum facing Indian professionals today. I use weekends, vacations and the odd sabbatical to make time for my other interests.

CG: How successful have you been able to find a balance between creative satisfaction and social acceptance? If so, how?

Me: Social acceptance has not been too great a challenge in my career. Probably cause fashion design as a profession is pretty well accepted and established. I have had to assert myself some, and set certain boundaries, and once that?s done I find doing what I feel like is mainly about putting in the time and energy. My parents are pretty darn supportive. In my case creative satisfaction and social acceptance aren't interdependent so to speak.

CG: What new idea or area of creativity has inspired you recently? How did you become aware of this new inspiration?

Me: I think we need customized cupcake-icing parlours. Lol... ok seriously, well with the recession having set in and the effects of it showing on the retail market, I'm looking at developing a line of fashion accessories and later clothing which is chic, stunning and VFM. I know I'd like that. And I'd like to tap consumers who think likewise. I love statement necklaces, and brooches and t-shirts and I want to offer these at great prices while thoroughly tripping myself out making them!

CG: What words would you offer to other creative people to inspire and encourage them?

Me: Ok, i'm going to enumerate these:

1. Do what brings you joy, what excites you. Learn to transmit that energy via your work. It makes a difference. That's something i'm working on.
2. Stay true to your vision. The difference between people who call themselves creative and who really are creative is the presence or absence of vision and original thought.
3. For a creative person the worst place to be in is the state of non-creation. Give your creative energies their outlets. It's okay to be a bit afraid when taking that creative leap. Get over it.
   
4. And finally, ask and you shall receive. Learn to ask for what you want, but before that get to know what you want. That takes some meditation.
   

CG: What do you have to say about Creativegarh and its efforts?

Me: Exceedingly commendable. CG is a space that's grown to become a part of my inbox and life to quite an extent. I keep coming back to it and hope to be a greater part of it in times to come. CG is a space for ideas, idea people, sharing and encouragement, inspiration and opportunities.

CG: Where can people have a look at your work and contact you? If you have a website, please do post the URL. Do you blog? if yes, can you share the URL(s)? A small note of why and how you blog would be very helpful.

Me: I'm in the process of setting up my own website. Meanwhile, I blog, but not very often. My design blog is at http://styleasylum.blogspot.com. Your feedback is welcome. I blog: a) when I have the time and b) when something really knocks my socks off. I rather not do a half-hearted job of it.

CG: Any online profiles/links (facebook, linkedin, twitter, flickr, ryze, etc.) you would like to share with other cg members?

Me: Not really... shared a bunch already. I am on all these networking platforms though. Good god.

So there you have it. :) More updates soon...