Anaisha Patel's Instagram comics are a treasure trove of almost surreal characters, captions, charts and infographics that satirize the chaos and insanity of the lives we lead and the world we live in. They tackle everything from employment, to everyday annoyances like telemarketers, and mental illness in a manner that is equal parts relatable as it is dark and incisive. We caught up with the artist recently and managed to get a little bit of insight into both how she conceptualizes and creates her comics as well as the things she draws on for inspiration,

Tell us a little about this project.

Dysfuncxious started as a lockdown project and grew into a comics page. It is a page where I spill my thoughts unabashedly.

Describe your creative process and the purpose with which you create.

I don't have a process. I have a bank of ideas stored inside my brain cloud and I haven't figured out how to access it voluntarily. So, once in a while, an idea comes to me, I use Procreate to make it come to life and I post it on my page. My purpose is to make people smile or laugh through my work.

What are some of your biggest inspirations and influences over the course of your artistic career so far?

There are far too many sources to mention that have influenced my work. From film directors to photographers to colleagues; I have a wide range of people who have influenced my work. My own life, my mental health, and my experiences with understanding my own mind, all of this has influenced my work greatly.

My inspiration comes from stand-up comedians who don't fear expressing themselves freely. I'm also heavily inspired by a lot of artists on the gram.

What are some things you learned while putting this project together?

You can't please everyone. Not everyone is going to like what you put out. I've learnt that I fear judgement. But that still doesn't stop me from putting out my work. Likes don't matter but shares do to me! When I see how many people have shared a certain comic of mine it fills me with everlasting joy.

Who are some artists who are currently on your radar?

@zootgost on instagram is a growing artist. I enjoy the work that is put out.

Tell us about a project you wish you were a part of.

I wish I was a part of the broadway play — The Book of Mormon.

You can follow Anaisha here.

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