Page 78 - BEATS: Secondary School Edition 2020-21

Interview with a Multifaceted Artist –

Mr. VIVEK MEHRA

key aspect of any student’s transformation In general, I am inspired by nature. I want to remind
is exposure. The next interview is by Ananya the viewer of the beauty of nature and everyday things,
n
A
A and, wherein she interviews Mr. Vivek Mehra. and why they need to seek that happiness within.
No single word is enough to describe him, as he is an
artist, photographer, and IT entrepreneur, all at the Throughout your career as an upcoming artist,
same time. photographer, and IT entrepreneur, what are some
struggles that you have faced, and what have they
Q: How did you start off your career as an artist, taught you?
photographer, and IT entrepreneur, did you face any Art is a very subjective pursuit and it is, at times,
challenges that made you want to give up? difficult to make a living from. Fundamentally,
A: Art was not my first career choice and I created one creates art for themselves, out of creative
art as a hobby. I started this journey when I was 30 expression. If an artist’s sole purpose is commercial,
when I got a chance to exhibit at a gallery and sold all they can never be truly creative and have to bend to
of my displayed work in 2 weeks. commercial needs. There is an inherent conflict in what
is subjectively good for the artist, not always being
How do you think art has shaped who you are as an considered as valuable by the viewer, and may not be
individual and how you look at the world? saleable. I faced the same struggles.
I think intrinsically everyone is born to appreciate
art—in all its forms—music, dance, visual, or performing. Do you believe your works to be a method of
Art has made life more interesting, has provided joy introspection for you, which one is your favorite and
in moments of sadness and despair, always uplifting, why?
and a way to connect with your soul, and nature. Yes, certainly art is a way to continuously introspect.
It is difficult to pick any one painting or photograph as
Your work today comes under the umbrella of Indian a favorite. Each is reflective of my introspection and
symbolism and occidental modernism, how has your creative expression at that moment in time.
practice changed over time? What have been the
biggest influences on your practice as an artist? How do you navigate the art world, what do you think
I have been inspired by every single artist I have is special to you and your pieces?
met, and all the works I have seen. Subconsciously, I choose to stay a bit distant from the commercial
or consciously I have learned from other artists. Over art world, exemplified by galleries and exhibits which I
time, I have built my own personal grammar — or how find to be mostly commercial outlets – less about the
I choose to represent what I see in the physical world, art itself or its purpose and more about the monetary
manifested in my choice of lines, colours, shapes, transactions. I generally do not have more than one
and landscapes. My biggest influences are American exhibition in a five-year period and prefer to show, or
abstract expressionists: Richard Diebenkorn, Wolf give my work mostly to friends and family. Each piece
Kahn, and Joan Mitchell, and Indian modernists like that I create is an expression of my life’s journey and
Bhupen Khakar, M. Raza, and MF Hussain. not always resonant with an outside viewer.

What do you aim to express and address through Interviewed by Ananya Anand, MYP 3
your artwork and photos, is there a general message
or idea you aim to present?

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