Pranav Vashisht belongs to the younger generation of Indian artists. He is self-motivated and is humble enough to say that he is an artist in making. Pranav’s works were part of the theme “Identity” at the Desi Canvas. In an Email conversation, Pranav tells us about the artist in him:
Ashish: What is the story behind you becoming an artist?
Pranav Vashisht: I would not call myself an artist. I have not become the artist yet. I am in the process of learning and experimenting. I like to make art, make things my way, make something which I can show to someone who brings shine in his/her eyes, that is it.
Ashish: What inspires you to put your energy into art?
Pranav Vashisht: The negligence of people, art is around us everywhere but people chose to overlook it. my point is to pick the thing from right in front of them and put it in their hands. it is beautiful and breath-taking art everywhere, in food, in streets, in play, in talking everywhere we just need to pay our attention.
The biggest example is when I used waste paper tubes in our architecture office to make installation and pavilion last year which became the main focus of the entire event in Jaipur. After that, all architecture offices started saving them to make products.
Ashish: What materials do you use in your artworks?
Pranav Vashisht: Mostly, discarded or waste, if not waste then as cheap as possible but use it in a way to look rich.
Ashish: How have you evolved as an artist?
Pranav Vashisht: Started with making comics for my school and then college newsletter, the journey is quite long. mostly started playing with more hard materials after when I entered architecture. I am drawing since forever though, a major breakthrough in art field is when I did my first show at Jawahar Kala Kendra called Places and Spaces with Aadit Basu. After that, I have done one solo-show at a national architecture event and one again with Aadit. Also I had a chance to work with Subodh Gupta for two months, which was great.
Ashish: Who is/are your favorite artist(s)? And why?
Pranav Vashisht: Being a comic artist myself, I like Joan Cornella in present scenario. Kim Junggi in drawing, Leon keer,Ben Heine & Kobra in street art, Subodh Gupta, Anish Kapoor and Bjarke Ingels in Installation and Spatial Design.
Ashish: As an artist what do you think needs to be done to reach out to more people?
Pranav Vashisht: Make is as cheap and as fast as possible. Black ink, pape, and xerox machine can do wonders (grassroots comics). So as colored water and lime-washed wall (boamistura), if you know what I mean.
Ashish: What differences do you find in the audience of India and abroad?
Pranav Vashisht: Humans are same everywhere, we need to touch the soul or hit the spine.
Ashish: Is art limited to some classes in India? if so, what are the reasons behind it?
Pranav Vashisht: No. Only pretentious art is.
Ashish: How do you see the economics of art in India?
Pranav Vashisht: I really do not know.