Yashasvi Mathis Is A Visual Artist Who Uses Androgyny To Subvert Gender Norms

At first glance, Yashasvi Mathis' art appears as a whirlwind of fluid shapes and vibrant colors, but as you dive deeper into her characters, you witness an explosion of creativity that demands further exploration. A self-taught visual artist hailing from India, Yashasvi's journey began with lavish fashion illustrations but has since transformed into a profound practice of self-enquiry, drawing inspiration from theosophy, mythology, and mysticism.

One striking element that consistently emerges in Yashasvi's art is the presence of towering, androgynous women. These figures, with their slightly contorted features, challenge conventional notions of femininity and blur the lines between genders. In their square shoulders and angular jaws, Yashasvi hides subtle hints that these enigmatic beings may hail from another realm altogether. Her art thus becomes a vessel for subverting societal norms related to color and gender, delving into the mystical and the unknown, much like the artist's own introspective exploration of existential questions.

Yashasvi Mathis' creative inclinations towards these broad-shouldered and unabashed women reveal deeper layers of meaning. She tells Ritupriya Basu, "Anything I draw takes the shape of these women. Maybe I have a certain connection with them in the deepest recesses of my memory. I have always loved broad-shouldered silhouettes because it translates as power and elegance. Making the women in odd proportions also helps draw attention to the core idea rather than making them look so proper that the viewer gets lost in the superficial details. They act as the medium to convey a state of mind but they also feel like versions of the same person."

Beyond the captivating figures that populate her work, Yashasvi feels a profound sense of responsibility as an artist. She believes that the most crucial lesson of our times is the significance of introspection, seeking the paradise within rather than outside ourselves. Her artistic journey is also deeply intertwined with her passion for music, a force that has shaped her unique creative path. Her desire to "interpret music visually" goes beyond the conventional approach to album cover design. Yashasvi aims to create a symbiotic relationship between music and visual art, where her illustrations become an extension of the music itself bridging the gap between auditory and visual senses.

Yashasvi describes her current work as "strange, semi-mystical, and dreamy." Her creations often feature haunting yet beautiful alien-like figures set against vibrant, mysterious backdrops, evoking the realms of inner worlds and other dimensions. Her unique style combines cues from the known reality, pushing them to their most uncanny extremes, resulting in an art form that straddles the line between familiarity and otherworldly intrigue. Her use of colour builds upon her artisitc vision and melds reality with dreams, offering viewers the thrilling experience of the unknown.

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