Working in Isolation: One Artist in Dehli, India Shares Her Thoughts and Her Work
Written by Cathy Breslaw
June 15, 2020
Most artists work in relative isolation. Our collective art practices and the creative process demands it. It goes against the human urge to congregate and socialize. Still, we persevere as the ‘call to create’ nudges us. We then deliberately make space – intellectually, emotionally and physically for the act of creation. We move forward quietly, with intention and faith in the process. Never have artists been more aware of isolation than time now spent alone in this Corona Virus pandemic environment. It is not our choice, but as artists we are familiar and in some ways ahead of the game in our familiarity and relative comfort with loneliness of self -containment. This “Working In Isolation” series aims to highlight how artists are adapting and how their work has evolved as a result of the pandemic. Read more articles in this series HERE.
Artist Nidhi Agarwal who was born and raised in Dehli India, shares her experience with making art during this distressing and complicated time.
“I believe art becomes the best stage when a calamity happens. The calamity propels writers , artists and philosophers to dig deeper in the situation.”
– Nidhi Agarwal
Before the Pandemic
Nidhi Agarwal – Confiscated Conversations Oil on canvas 36″ x 48″
dyptich 2019
During the Pandemic
Mystic Enclosure water color on paper 8″ x 6″
1) How has your work shifted during the pandemic? Has it been a change in the process of your creating art? The mediums you use? The themes or concepts you are thinking about?
I find just a little shift in my work. I basically work in a very liberal manner, rather undisciplined and shifting to mediums in a cycle. I saw myself taking more liberty in my thoughts and actions because some unknown pressure was released. My thoughts were more random and free flowing with a greater speed. I just sat and scribbled for months. Suddenly the impact of surroundings was defeated by my own reasoning and psyche. As the whole world was dealing with the crisis, the crisis impacts the minds more than it impacts us physically. People are anxious, they have the pandemic challenging their relationships, economy and growth. I kept working in small formats, only paper based. I had only this as my option because I was restricted to commute to my studio where I work on larger sizes. But yes, this restriction came in a quite positive way as I sat daily working, so the connection was really intense.
2) What have you discovered about yourself as an artist during this pandemic?
I see myself as unstoppable 🙂 . There is always a possibility left. Rathe , the more challenging life gets, the more the work intensifies. Expressions intensify. I believe art becomes the best stage when a calamity happens. The calamity propels writers, artists and philosophers to dig deeper into the situation. This uncertainty is the best time to study human action and a great stimulus for production. This was among the best times when I felt my nerves.
3) What have been your biggest challenges working in isolation? Surprises?
I need a window. But at this point it was a blank wall in front. The table was too tiny. There was almost zero perspective in space for me to think or go lost in the oblivion. I couldn’t scatter. I couldn’t leave my work station cluttered. Assemble and reassemble was expected. It’s a big hindrance in artistic consciousness. At times I felt lack of art materials. There was always a fear of running out of supplies. I am an impulsive worker. At that time a thought always flashed ….that – what if I was confined in a prison, or a hospital or a forest? Then, I would be looking for some single piece of stick and a surface – a wall or earth where I could at least draw. Just two simple things were required to express. And then, looking at my supplies , I gathered that I have abundance already. At other instances I wanted the supplies to finish so that I look around to find something unconventional – maybe from the kitchen. Though it never happened, but I was surprised that in a difficult pandemic situation I was more focused on art supplies than anything else. I must have my tools handy in any situation.
Are you an artist who’s work has evolved significantly as a result of the pandemic? Please submit your work to Cathy Breslaw at [email protected] for consideration as a featured artist in the Working in Isolation series: Please be sure to write “Working in Isolation” in the subject line.
