Kaushik Tyagi is from Agra. After finishing his Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) degree from his hometown, he decided to move to Delhi-NCR for further studies. He now lives in Kaladham in Greater Noida. In a telephonic conversation he talked about his life as an upcoming artist:
Ashish: What is the story behind you becoming an artist?
Kaushik Tyagi: I do not belong to a family of artists. I come from a middle-class family that believes in traditional values. It is why it was difficult for me to explain to them my desire of entering the field of creative arts. I was good at sketching since my school days. I was able to express myself better through this medium.
I talked to my father about this, but he asked me to go for a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree instead. I spent a year studying science but did not appear for the year-end exam and decided to leave the course. Then I went for a hotel management degree and pretty soon dropped out from there as well. By then I had almost forgotten how to sketch. One day, my mother handed me a form and asked me to fill and submit it. It was the application form of Lalit Kala Sansthan, Agra.
A: What inspires you to put your energy into art?
KT: I want to paint my silence. That silence which I cannot express in words. My silence speaks to me, and I feel like I should give a creative form. I feel like my silence is my inspiration.
A: What material do you use in your painting?
KT: I use oil, charcoal and clay.
A: How do you think you have evolved as an artist?
KT: My continuous urge to grow has forced me to be more expressive. I want to devote myself completely to art. I want to develop newer forms of expression. I keep trying and experimenting. I am still evolving.
A: Who is your favorite artist(s) and why?
KT: Ram Kinkar Baij is my favourite artist. Once, Rabindranath Tagore had said this to him, “once you finish a work do not look at it again.”
A: As an artist, what do you think needs to be done in order to reach out to more people?
KT: We cannot force anyone, of course, but we can certainly try creating interest in them. An artist should keep trying to improve himself so that he can become better and more expressive every day. It can make people get attracted to the work of the artist.
A: What difference do you find between the Indian audience and the one abroad?
KT: I feel like I should focus on my work at this stage rather than commenting on the audiences.
A: Is art limited to some classes in India? If so, what are the reasons behind it?
KT: Yes it is. Middle-class is overwhelmed with its day to day challenges. Still, some people find time for art.
A: How do you see the economics of art in India?
KT: I am not very familiar with the whole dynamics of art economics.