In 2019, I wanted to quit my job but did not have the nerve. What would I do after quitting? I could not trust myself as an artist, not yet. So I applied to a few art universities, in India, Australia and one in Japan. But my portfolio was never strong enough. I had no references, no contacts. The one in Japan was an institute specializing in New Media Arts. I didn't even know what that meant. But as I saw the profiles and activities of the students, I understood that it is a place that welcomes people from various backgrounds. I decided to go for the entrance exam, had zero confidence in clearing it. So I carried on working on quarterly reports just as usual. But the, I got a letter saying, I cleared.
I was to join in April 2020. What a year! What a start! We were all asked to stay in our rooms, not meet each other. Have Zoom-party. All that I had imagined of exploring, going out and doing crazy artwork was to be reconsidered now. The professors and admin was just as confused as us and so was the entire world.
We were asked to make an artwork for display. It was voluntary. I decided to dive in, all I could think of my situation - of wanting to be an artist, starting a new life, being cocooned in the rooms - was that it was 'metamorphosis'. Of slowly consuming and taking in what was happening around, moving slowly like a caterpillar, very unaware of what the future holds. And yet moving, inch by inch, day by day.
This is part 1 of the three piece artwork.
