#HGArtProject 023: Shreya Gupta

Shreya grew up in Calcutta, and moved to Bangalore when she joined Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, where she did a two-year foundation course in Art & Design. She went on to specialise in Visual Communication and graduated with a diploma last December.

During school, she was fortunate to have interned at Dev Kabir Malik Design in New Delhi for a couple of months. She is currently working a full-time job at Seventh Inc. which is a Brand & Design Consultancy in Bangalore.

I. Which are some of your biggest inspirations over the years of your artistic career?

This might be a bit odd to say, but the people I’ve worked with have really inspired me the most. I enjoy collaborative projects, and I feed off the ability to mix and merge ideas with others. I almost enjoy the fact that I don’t possess a specific style of work like many other designers. That has been possible by being inspired by other forms of art like theatre, music, film and craft.

II. Could you tell us more about the thought process behind the artwork you made us?

The artwork I made for you was part of a self-initiated project I had done back in school. I have an obsession for viewing everyday objects, and imagining them as completely different ones based on how they resemble each other in form. I looked at the therapeutic nature of music, and how its status has been elevated to that of a universal ‘instrument’ of peace and juxtaposed that with the weapons and violence that children are exposed to, whether in war zones or in violent surroundings.

I merged the methods of Play Therapy and Music Therapy to design conceptual toys that serve as a self-learning experience to address behavioural issues associated with violent incidents. The toys transform from weapons like grenades, guns and tanks into musical instruments like maracas, flutes and drum kits. I explored the 3D visuals of the grenade – maraca during the course of the project.

III. Who are some of your most inspirational artists in India and abroad? 

Kacper Kiec from Poland, for his mixed media illustrations. Sagmeister & Walsh, New York, for their experimental typography and dynamic branding. Lately, I have developed a love for paper craft and so I’ll mention Hattie Newman, UK, for her paper sculptures and set designs that are beyond perfect. From India, Umbrella Design and Locopopo Design Studio.

IV. If you could work with the Indian government for an art project that you get to suggest and lead, what would that be?

I would take it upon myself to re-design the learning material that kids have to read through for 13 years of their school life. I remember fighting to stay awake and understand all the paragraphs and endless pages of stuff I would forget an hour after the exam.

I’ve always wished that learning subjects would be an interactive, entertaining experience, as it would prove to be much more effective, sparing the imposing burden on Indian school children who are taught to memorise the material.

V. What are your future plans? Any projects you would like to kick off or possibly work for a big art house?

My future plans are to pull myself together and hopefully get a scholarship to do my Master's abroad. I want to live in a different continent, and see what I can learn from the people and cultures there - and then, if my luck is great, move onto the next continent.

VI. Could you share 3 of your best designs and elaborate on each one of them? 

Music Not Violence'

Conceptual designs for an interactive toy that turns from a grenade into a maraca. Merging Play Therapy and Music Therapy to create a self-learning experience for a child that has been exposed to the four strings of violence – ‘homicide, suicide, war and terror.’ I explored the nature of music which is a medium of both sound and silence - it can often convey that which cannot be spoken.

The Endless Campaign

Everyday there are new species added to the UN Red List of Endangered Animals. This campaign provokes human minds to wake up to the challenge of creating a future that is sustainable for the offspring of animals as much as our own. Assuming that only the carcasses of animals remain, I have designed provocative posters wherein baby products are made from the skeletons of animals listed as endangered in today's world.

VartalApp

is an audio-visual-textual mobile application I designed that would allow users to search, explore and contribute to the evolving diverse communication methods that the youth of India have to offer. I aimed to design a ready resource bank to help you when you’re looking for the right words to evoke the rhythms of native speech, or to decode the contemporary ways that Indians communicate with each other, either verbally or through body gestures. 

This was my final diploma project, and I was lucky that the great people from Chumbak.in saw potential in it. I am currently working along with them to expand and re-design it more towards the aesthetics of the Chumbak's clientèle, and it is in the process of development right now, to be launched in the coming months.

VII. Quick question round:
- One track your currently listening to?
Metal and Dust – London Grammar
- An artwork you wished you did?
The cover of John Mayer’s ‘Born and Raised’ Album by John Smith.
- An art project you wish you were a part of?
The opening animation sequence for The Game of Thrones episodes.
- Your favourite munchies?
Maggi served in any way.
- Paint or wacom bamboo?
Wacom Bamboo.