We recently connected with Sanjana Sharma and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sanjana , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is a graphic novel cookbook called “Nur-Nuri, Kur-Kuri, Kon-Kaani” This is a self-written and illustrated graphic novel that features a collection of cuisine and stories interwoven with the folktales, memories, experiences, and stories of the Konkani people in India.

Konkani is a language predominantly spoken by people on the western coast of India, known as the Konkan coast. This region is home to various dialects of the language, each reflecting unique traditions, lifestyles, and practices. However, despite its cultural significance, the 2011 population survey in India revealed that only 2.5 million people in the country speak Konkani, representing a mere 0.19% of the total population. Consequently, Konkani has been regarded as a dying language among linguists and scholars. The recent loss of many native speakers, the limited documentation of the language, and the impact of globalization, which is steering communities toward Westernized lifestyles, all contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Konkani.

As a member of the Konkani-speaking community, I took on this project to connect with my heritage and represent my culture. After months of research, including literature studies, surveys, and interviews, I established clear goals for the project. The main objective was to raise awareness about the Konkani culture and create an effective documentation of the traditions. Additionally, I aimed to present the information in a visually engaging manner, considering the shorter attention span of today’s audience. Furthermore, to keep myself on track, I developed a design brief to focus on the project’s goals and generate ideas. The brief was as follows:

“To design an interface that effectively documents and presents information on Konkani cuisine, poetry, and anecdotes, for both Konkani and non-Konkani speakers aged between 18 and 30, who are inquisitive, to spread awareness and give a voice to the community.”

The primary area of focus of the book is food as food represents more than just sustenance. It speaks of class division, changing tastes, and regional and cultural differences. It signals a deep connection between history and culture. It forms an important link to our culture and heritage. I intended to use a cookbook in a graphic novel format to tie in other aspects of culture such as community history, folktales, festivals, poetry, and personal experiences. This will keep readers engaged with diverse content while also providing them with the opportunity to try out the recipes themselves.

When it came to advertising, I wanted the campaign to instantly grab the attention of the audience, unlike any other book. So, I designed two newspaper fronts that parodied popular newspapers to promote the book on the front cover of the newspaper. The idea was to blend the advertisement in with the newspaper seamlessly such that it looks as if it is a regular newspaper article.

Currently, I am working on improving the book in terms of design and packaging and adding more information to the book to reach a more global audience. I am hoping to take this up as my graduate thesis project and publish the book at the end of it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hello! My name is Sanjana Sharma. I am an Illustrator and Graphic Designer from Bengaluru, India currently pursuing an MFA in illustration at Syracuse University. I specialize in illustrating comics, book art, packaging design, and branding. The best way to describe my work is that it is fun, energetic, quirky, and lively. I work in several different mediums from digital, and mixed media to pen and ink, sometimes in combination.

My art is driven by the power of humor to bring joy and cultural commentary through my illustrations. This stems from a deep appreciation for the power of laughter, to bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds or life experiences. I achieve this by embracing the dynamic approach of digital and mixed media to create my work, allowing me to explore innovative techniques and create visually engaging and conceptually profound artwork.

While drawing inspiration from many artistic and cultural sources, my Indian roots remain at the core of my creative work. My work is profoundly influenced by the concept of Hâsya, one of the Navarasas- the nine emotions in Indian aesthetics. Hence I use bright colors and intricate patterns, seeking to create illustrations that are not only visually vibrant but also convey a sense of wonder and delight as they explore it. This is in conjunction with the hopes of inspiring people to explore and appreciate the diversity of the world around them.

As I was growing up, school wasn’t my strong suit. I always found myself lost in my world, drawing little cartoons and creating stories in my imagination. Even at six years old, I had these little books where I would draw and write stories and show them to my parents and my brother. But all of that came to a screeching pause when my grades in school started dropping, which was unacceptable at home and school. This led me to lose my passion for art and focus all my energy on studying and getting good grades. I felt immense pressure to prioritize studying, as it is seen as the ideal path in Indian society, while art was considered a distraction and a waste of time.

When I graduated from high school, I took control of my future. Most of my friends followed the usual path of pursuing careers in engineering, medicine, finance, or law. Although it was daunting at first, I expressed to my parents that I couldn’t see myself in any of those fields. Instead, I expressed my passion for art and my ambition to become a graphic designer. Although my parents were initially hesitant, they put their trust in me and supported my decision to pursue graphic design. This was where I rediscovered my love for illustration and began incorporating it into my work more and more. I started illustrating books, creating products, and tabling at local events in Bengaluru. These experiences revealed to me that people appreciated my work and wanted to see more from me. For my thesis project, I developed a well-received graphic novel.

I enrolled at Syracuse University in 2023 to pursue an MFA in illustration. I’m currently in the second year of my program and have had numerous valuable experiences. I have a supportive and encouraging mentor and peer group. After graduation, I hope to kick start a beautiful career in the world of illustration.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was always deferring to people with more experience, assuming they know what’s best. This is something I still struggle with, but I’ve gotten better at challenging it. Growing up, I was deeply ingrained with the idea of always complying with people who have more experience. I used to assume that they knew what was best for me and would agree with them even when I disagreed deep down.

After unlearning this lesson, I gained confidence in my knowledge and intuition. In the first year of my design school, I was dull and frequently discouraged. This was because I forced myself to agree with my professor’s opinions even when I believed it wasn’t the best. I began doubting my abilities, ideas, and, choices. I constantly looked for affirmation and approval. However, things started to change when I started to ignore unnecessary criticism and only take in constructive feedback. I became bolder, and happier with my work and started taking creative risks with positive results. I developed confidence in my skills and my voice and became more proactive.

There was an instance in the last year of my undergraduate school where unlearning this habit has changed my life to this day. For our thesis projects, we were to pitch a project that we believe is worth developing and working on. When I pitched a project that was important to me and believed in its potential, my advisor rejected it outright. They told me that no one would be interested in that project. Dejected, I started coming up with other project ideas to impress them, but sadly nothing worked. But one fine day, something clicked in me. I walked up to my advisor and repitched my initial project. I asserted that I believed it had its potential and wanted to work on it. By the end of the thesis project, the same advisor was impressed with what I had achieved. They applauded and congratulated. To this day, I am glad that I stood up for what I believed in and didn’t underestimate myself, which has now led me to pursue a career in illustration.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, I wish to bring laughter, joy, and cultural commentary through my work. Whether it is creating illustrations, designs, or interfaces, I believe in approaching my work with a sense of adventure and curiosity, always pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Infusing humor into my art serves two purposes: challenging societal norms and breaking down barriers. The goal is to spark conversations that transcend the surface and delve into deeper perspectives. This approach allows individuals to find joy and delight in everyday situations and mundane experiences through my work. By seeking humor in the ordinary, I aim to illustrate liveliness and positivity in my artwork. Henceforth, It becomes a powerful reminder to appreciate the smaller, lighter moments in life, offering a refreshing perspective.

I am also committed to using my art to inspire and empower girls and women in my country to pursue their passions without being confined by societal expectations. It is my goal to serve as a role model and advocate for breaking barriers and embracing individual creativity and expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sanjanasharma.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoebox_crayons/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjana-sharma-a78320212/