Kavi gives us reasons to love Art!

Art calms us down and so does many other things – but did you know being artistic and creating vivid paintings can make one really happy! It’ does for this amazing and talented artist – Kavi!

We had a chance to speak to Kavi about her journey as a painter/artist and her amazing creativity.

Thanks for speaking with us at UrbanAsian- can you tell us a little bit about your company I AM Kavi and what drove you to get into art?

I’ve always wanted to be an artist, even as a child. From a young age, my parents, although extremely supportive, told me that making art would be better as a hobby and to choose a practical career. At 19, I began posting some of my work online, and more and more inquiries and commissions trickled in. But it wasn’t until 24, when I met my husband, Samir, who really pushed me to take my artistic career to the next level, that I decided to pursue art full-time.

What role does an artist have in society on the type of form you create?

Art is a form of self-expression and a means to communicate one’s emotions. The way I mix media with drawings, photography, and embellishments, which I then embed in resin, allows me to express my mood at that moment in time, conjuring feelings into artistic form. The beauty of art, though, is that everyone interprets a piece differently, so there’s no one way to view something.

What’s integral to the work of an artist like yourself?

When I’m working on a project, I try to keep an open mind and not feel set in the way I envision it. Anything can happen that way. If I stop expecting a certain result, then real change and transformation can occur naturally.

Where do you get your inspiration from when you create a painting?

I enjoy a free-flowing process, and I tend to follow my intuition. Throw some music into the mix, and I can take myself to such a meditative place. I never know what the end result will be, but it’s usually informed by my life experiences as well.

 

 

 Does I AM Kavi have a set theme of art and do you create other themes or just one form?

I never limit myself to one form of expression. I often utilize non-traditional materials to explore color tone and texture. Working with multiple media gives me the freedom to combine all of my favorite things, allowing me, for example, to incorporate my poetry into a visual depiction. My latest series is somewhat autobiographical and about my identity as an Indian American. By highlighting certain life experiences, I want my pieces to spark conversation and inspire people to ask questions.

 Why art?

I have a very simple answer: Creating art is cathartic, and it makes me happy.

What is an artistic outlook on life?

As an artist, I thrive on overcoming obstacles that present themselves during countless hours of a process that amounts to trial and error. No piece is perfect. I just go with the creative flow. Mistakes, in this context—and in the larger context of life—are not bad: they make you think and problem-solve creatively.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

When I had a show in Texas, a woman was so engrossed in a painting I had made of an anatomical heart with hundred-dollar bills layered on top with bullets coming out of it. The piece represented how money can consume even the purest of hearts. You can have all the money in the world, but if you aren’t kind and respectful then it doesn’t mean anything. I love using objects that symbolize deeper meanings.

Should art be funded?

In a word, yes.

What role does arts funding have?

The positive impact on the community is immeasurable. It’s impossible to quantify the benefits of the arts. When I was 15, I saw an exhibition of Van Gogh in Paris that had a lasting impact on me and encouraged me to pursue the arts. I want today’s kids to have that same kind of access to art and the ambition to dream big. I wish there were more recourses in schools for children to have the opportunity to travel and have access to art programs and learn different techniques.

 

 What makes you angry?

Very little, but I can’t stand when my resin doesn’t cure properly when I’m putting the finishing touches on a work.

 What research to you do?

It depends on the project. Sometimes I just rely on my own personal history, but, at other times, I’ll use objects, newspaper, or other elements that are linked to a particular time to speak to a larger cultural moment.

What is your dream project?

I’d love to collaborate with the artist Hush, who inspires me. And if I could have a show in Bombay, where I was born, that would be a dream.

Name three artists you’d like to be compared to?

That’s a tough question. I don’t know. But I can say that my work is influenced by several modern-day masters including Yayoi Kusama, Hush, and Swoon.

 Tell us where our readers and viewers can find your art – and is your art for sale?

Yes, check out my Instagram at @iamkavikavi and my website (www.iamkavi.com)!