Art For A Cause

Meet visual illustrator, Tanya Kotnala who uses her creative medium to revive, and celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of India.

- Shivpriya Bajpai

Contemporary artists are taking roads less traveled to voice their opinion through their craft. They are addressing sensitive issues including, body image, mestruation awareness, feminism, among others, with their imagination and creativity. In the same light, shines the bright and prodigal star, Tanya Kotnala, a fashion designer who took to visual illustration to depict India in its glorious diversity. In an exclusive interview, Tanya takes us through her project Bhuli, exploring new mediums of art, and more. Edited excerpts…

How did you get started in art? What made you choose illustration as a career?

I was into drawing even before I knew it. As a child I used to draw letters to my grandparents, I just never stopped drawing even for a day ever since I can remember. By profession, I am a fashion designer, but I am truly an artist to the core and extremely passionate about illustrations, fashion, and textile.

Where do you seek creative inspiration from? Do you have a muse?

As a kid I was fortunate enough to travel a lot. Travelling gives me a lot of perspective; I love to maintain sketchbooks of all my explorations. I love to illustrate about people and diverse cultures. Other than that I’ve always found designing for a purpose immensely inspiring and motivating. I don’t think that I’ve ever had a muse, but maybe I never got to find it. I’ll keep searching.

How would you describe your style of visual art?