1. Tell me more about the inspiration behind Pink Bank and the series it exists within 

So this piggybank series was actually started for an exhibition I was co-curating at the South Asia Institute. A lot of the topic was about investing in your culture and your roots. But overtime I decided to extend that project and dig into what really is the purpose of the piggybank growing up, and can you really ever feel completely fulfilled or satisfied with your life. So the emptiness or the hole in the stomach of these cows is for you to question yourself and act as a space for self reflection. 

 

1. How is the process of working with porcelain?

This was actually my first time working with ceramics in general. It was over a time period of 4 months in a class at SAIC during my final semester. The people who were with me know what I went through! But no, in all seriousness its perfect for me because once you have learnt the art, its very therapeutic and as I’ve mentioned in my artist statement, I love repetitive processes and making multiples so I think it aligned very nicely with my practice.  Also for this project, I worked with slip casting and that helps me create multiples quicker and with more accuracy than wheel throwing would.

 

1. You talk a lot about repetition in your artist statement, what does that mean to you in your practice?

So a lot of my concepts are inspired from Surrealism, and a lot of what Surrealism entails is distorting objects/bodies etc to help you question topics regarding the subconscious. And repetitions helps intensify the emotions like unity, tension, frustration or even humor that help answer questions of the subconscious. I also use repetition as an opportunity to celebrate individuality amongst the multiples of objects Im creating through changes in color and patterns. In a way these armies help reflect on the diversity within humanity. 

 

1. How does joy, humor, and color manifest in your life and art practice? 

Well in my life and art practice, I think joy is about celebrating the moment. Surrealism allows me to look absurdities of life which depending on how you look at it can bring a lot of humor. Pink bank is taking this simple concept of asking you what fulfills you in a more fun way. So even though the concept is kind of dark, it can be changed depending on your perspective. Consider it a mix of what is going on with the contrast of releasing barbie and Oppenheimer together.