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Sed ut perspiciatis unde.
SubscribeAlright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tejasvi Shah. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Tejasvi, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I first realised that I wanted to paint and draw when I was in school, in 10th standard. During my exams painting was something that took me off my academics and gave me peace of mind- also made me realise that there are things apart from academics that can be rewarding.
As I went on a painting spree, I made the decision in my 12th standard that I wanted to learn about the realm of visual arts. But between 10th and 12th Standard I thought of choosing a field that would give me quicker money and is more ‘structured’, so I decided to go for design. After realising that design is not my aptitude and getting rejections from most design colleges in India, I gave it a shot at MSU (Maharaja Sayajirao University), Baroda, India in 2017 and got through.
I have been in the field ever since and do not regret my decision even once.
Tejasvi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Tejasvi Shah and I am from Ahmedabad, India. I did my bachelors in Painting and Masters in Fine Art, from India. While studying painting in Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda, in 2017-2021, I realised that I was actually more interested in drawing. Hence, in my MFA from Shiv Nadar University, Delhi, India, in 2021-2023 my studio practice started leaning towards drawing and photography, encompassing ecological imagery. I then decided to take up an MA in Art and Ecology at The Burren College of Art, in Ireland where I currently study.
As I went on a painting spree, I made the decision in my 12th standard that I wanted to learn about the realm of visual arts. But between 10th and 12th Standard I thought of choosing a field that is more structured than painting. So I applied for design. After realizing that design is not my aptitude and getting rejections from most design colleges in India, I applied to MSU for painting (Maharaja Sayajirao University), Baroda, India in 2017 and got through, bringing me closer to my aptitude and passion.
I can call photography and drawing as my main practice, while also paving way for other media as idea shape up.
I definitely had to get rid of all the negative associations that are attached with the profession of an artist, such as
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I definitely had to get rid of all the negative associations that are attached with the profession of
What sets me apart is that I have learnt to focus on my own track and it is a tough skill to maintain, while being in a competitive world where probably more 100 artists would be applying for a single grant opportunity. The catch is to maintain honesty towards who I am and what my work demands from me.
I can call photography and drawing as my main practice, while also paving way for other media as ideas shape up.
I first realized that I wanted to paint and draw when I was in school, in 10th standard. During my exams painting was something that took my mind off the stress from my academics and made me realise that there are activities apart from academics that can be rewarding. This also brought me closer to myself.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I definitely had to get rid of all the negative associations that are attached with he profession of an artist, such as- we artists are always going to have to walk on a lonely path or feeling guilty over ‘commercializing’ my art, or ‘I have to be productive all the time because there is no one to tell me what to work and when to work. I picked up all these notions from various places and people, and while paving way for myself, I thought it was only fair to move away and celebrate being an artist over anything else. I learnt that at the end of the day, it is my perception that is guiding my work and life and I should be able to claim it.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Nived Janardhan- personal photo
Tejasvi Shah- work photos
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