Relinquishing You by Malavika Reddy
“I didn’t choose art but art chose me…I think I got into art the day my parents said I could draw on the walls.” -Malavika Reddy
In the past two years, the world has changed thanks to the blockchain and the internet. The traditionally illiquid art market has united with the liquid cryptocurrency-holding public through the use of NFTs.
In this ten part series, we travel virtually to unique locations across the globe to meet individual creators using NFT technology.
In this our first part of the series, it is my pleasure to introduce you to a multidisciplinary artist from India who is venturing into digital art and animation.
An Inside Look with Malavika Reddy
“There are quite a lot of things that I can do but I’d rather spend my life creating art.” -Malavika Reddy
Location: India
1. How and when did you get into art?
At many times I think, I didn’t choose art but art chose me. The reason I say this is, is because I was born to an Artist. My father DLN Reddy is a renowned artist in India. As a child not only did I get to see him create art but also saw his friends who often visited us create art. Watching my father mix paint while sitting at the easel, applying paint in gentle strokes to create images I had never seen before, later sitting among his artist friends, visiting art galleries, attending art exhibitions, watching my father direct his students from university who visited him to be guided, were some of my fondest memories and also what seems to have massively made me want to be an artist and nothing else.
I think I got into art the day my parents said I could draw on the walls.
2. What inspires you to create?
I have often wondered where inspiration comes from. Inspiration like many things that can’t be explained seems to be an experience that is received as a communication from the beyond. And sometimes these messages are received at the oddest of times from the oddest of places.
While I am the kind of artist who has believed that creativity is explored, and have henceforth, allowed myself the freedom to change styles frequently, being unconcerned about being defined by a specific style, instead intending to bring versatility, true creative potential and newness to the audience who witnesses my creations. I use these different styles to express the various ideas, thoughts and emotions that inspire me.
3. What is the biggest barrier you face as an artist?
I think one of the biggest barriers I face as an artist, besides having to deal with the inner critic, that sometimes is the most helpful guide but can also be the loud sound of fear that keeps me from moving ahead, is finding the right kind of audience, and communicating with people who want you to add words to something that you wish was communicated fully through a visual.
4. What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an artist?
I think I haven’t yet arrived at my greatest accomplishment but, I think it brings me tremendous joy each time I have successfully emoted myself through a visual and the wonderful people who come across it, write to me saying that the piece has touched them, that it reminded them of a deeply embedded memory, or made them feel understood or known, or in some sense helped them feel the love, the longing and the peace that comes from not feeling alone.
5. In what has crypto influenced your life and work?
Crypto has given me a chance to dream bigger than I did before. Before I started minting NFT’s, I was under galleries, creating art and having solo and group art exhibitions. I didn’t know anything much about crypto besides hearing the terms bitcoin or ethereum here and there. When I found out about NFT’s I saw it as the biggest opportunity to reach a wider audience. I have been in this space for more than a year, and I think I have never been this excited or motivated to create or felt more hopeful about living a more financially free life.6. In what was has crypto influenced your life and work?
7. What is one bad situation in the world you wish you could improve?
The minute I think about the bad situations in the world, it’s like all the things that aren’t right with the world line up. So while there is a lot I wish I had the power to change, I wish to in some way contribute to the education system.
I would love to see schools working towards a more wholistic development, incorporating technique’s, methods and ways that could help children become more self-assured, self-aware and sensitive to life, while also giving them the needed means to deal with adversity.
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This content is for news and educational purposes only. It does not constitute trading advice. Past performance does not indicate future results. Do not invest more than you can afford to lose. The author of this article may hold assets mentioned in the piece.