10 Questions with Janvi Choksi
Janvi Choksi is a growing visual artist whose work is driven by a profound exploration of abstraction and the emotive power of colour. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Visual Arts at Emory University. Janvi’s artistic journey is marked by an insatiable curiosity and a commitment to translating personal experiences into evocative visual narratives.
Her academic journey provides a solid foundation, fostering a deep understanding of art history, theory, and diverse artistic techniques. The academic environment also serves as a crucible for experimentation and paving the way for the development of a distinctive, personal style.
Janvi’s artistic sensibilities are deeply influenced by the rich cultural tapestry of her surroundings. She draws inspiration from the works of abstract expressionists such as Cecily Brown, and the ethereal qualities found in the fluid compositions of Angelina Gualdoni. This fusion of external influences converges in a unique artistic voice that echoes the complexities of human emotion and the impermanence of memories.
With a palette shaped by diverse influences and a commitment to capturing the essence of the human experience through abstraction, Janvi Choksi is a contemporary artist whose work resonates with emotion and nuance.
Janvi Choksi - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
Janvi’s artistic journey is an exploration of the intangible, to translate emotions, memories, and experiences into a visual language. The world of abstraction, absent of figurative constraints, allows her to articulate the ineffable and convey the profound through form, colour, and texture. She embraces a variety of mediums and techniques, allowing each artwork to dictate its own form of expression.
As an abstract artist, she is not interested in providing definitive answers but rather in fostering a dialogue between the artwork and the observer. She invites viewers to step into the open-ended narratives she creates, to find resonance with their own experiences, and to participate in the co-creation of meaning. In this symbiotic relationship between artist and audience, abstraction becomes a shared language that binds us all. Through abstract art, she aspires to craft not just visual compositions but immersive experiences that resonate with the depth and complexity of the human spirit.
Cortona, Oil and Acrylic on canvas, 50x80 cm, 2023 © Janvi Choksi
INTERVIEW
Let's start from the basics. How did you start getting interested in art? And what keeps you motivated?
My mother has been a big inspiration for me. I have grown up seeing her paint in different mediums and learning how to express myself creatively. I started painting as a hobby, and before I knew it, it had become a part of me.
As you mention in your biography, you are currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Visual Arts at Emory University. What do you wish you knew about contemporary art before you got started?
There isn't anything I wish I knew before because I'm still learning. There's a lot I don't know, but I'm excited to learn as much as I can about contemporary art and the different mediums within it.
Florence, Oil and ink on canvas, 35x40 cm, 2023 © Janvi Choksi
Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?
I have realised that I make the best paintings when I don't plan ahead. I just go with the flow. I think about what I want to convey through my painting and just let myself be free, making whatever brushstrokes and splatters I feel without thinking too much about how I should create this body of work. I just do it.
Tell us more about your abstract painting. What does it represent for you? Do you have any specific theme you want to focus on?
I make abstract paintings as a way to express my thoughts and experiences. My thoughts are abstract and hard to put into words, so I make paintings that are also abstract. Abstract painting, to me, represents a way of expression. I paint because I'm bad with words, so putting my thoughts on a canvas helps me express that. My abstract paintings are also meant to be subjective. What I paint means something personal to me, which is between me and my painting, and I want other people to have their own connection to the painting.
Currently, my abstract paintings are about travel and my experiences in different cities. I want to expand this series further, and travel to new places through artist residencies, and experience new places and people.
Ravenna, Oil on Canvas, 40x40 cm, 2023 © Janvi Choksi
Your work seems to be highly personal. How much of yourself and your experiences are reflected in your paintings?
I base all of my paintings on personal experience. I paint about what I have experienced and felt in the places I've been to.
In your statement, you mention Cecily Brown and Angelina Gualdoni as your primary inspirations. Do you have any other artists or role models that you particularly look up to?
I look up to all of the artists around me- my mom, my peers, and my teachers. There are so many different things I can learn from each one of them, and they help me make my artwork better.
What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?
I am currently working on a painting about my cultural identity and the city I grew up in. I have been away from Mumbai for a long time, and I feel like I am forgetting what it feels like to live there. So, I want to paint what Mumbai feels to me.
Siena, Oil and Acrylic on canvas, 35x40 cm, 2023 © Janvi Choksi
How do you promote your work? And what advice would you give to an emerging artist in this regard?
I post my artworks on Instagram and apply to open calls for exhibitions and publications. A piece of advice I would give to emerging artists like myself is to apply to artist residencies if they can. It's hard for me to make paintings at home without any studio space, but residencies provide that, and you get to work on any project you want to. It's a great way to create work while exploring new places and meeting new artists.
What do you wish to accomplish this year, both in terms of career goals and personal life?
I want to make a large body of work and be able to do an artist residency in the summer. In my personal life, I want to learn a new language
Finally, where do you see yourself and your work five years from now?
5 years from now, I want to have travelled and done a few artist residencies and have my work shown in a gallery.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
