Kala Curry Radio at Vivikoh's Studio

1. Tell us a little about yourself—who you are, what you do, and how art became a part of your journey.

I’m Vivitsa Kohli, a ceramicist and an artist. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was really young. My mother explored many mediums in murals, POP relief work, sculpture, sewing, textile printing crafts, etc and I was there to absorb it all. I feel extremely comfortable using my hands from making cement and brick sculptures to making delicate porcelain vases, I constantly find myself taking up huge projects and committing my mind and body to them fully.

2. Art isn’t just something we see—it’s something we live with. How does art seep into your daily life? And what does art mean to you?

I paint the walls I’m surrounded by, I use up every bit of fabric, paper, material I come across in my daily life and make something out of it. I find beauty in my own life, in my own mind and I think I have an endless universe inside my head that I would never do justice even if I were to dedicate all my life to it. I give a lot of time and energy to my people, my plants, my belongings and live artistically in everything I do. 

3. Why do you think handcrafted art matters today more than ever?

Abundance and overflowing commodities drive all consumers (some quicker than others) to consume mindfully. What good is abundant craft when it doesn’t feel like a craft anymore? When there is no personal intent, emotion to what you consume, it reflects in the way you interact with your belongings.

4. How many years have you been practicing this craft?

I’ve been practising the craft for 7 years and running my business for 6 of them.

5. What makes an artist an artist? (like who can call themselves an artist/what counts as being an artist)

The simple act of expressing your opinion through a medium that allows an audience to consume it, is Art enough. However, an artist must dedicate a significant part of their time practicing making Art to become one.

6. What does being an artist/brand that sells art mean to you? 

I’m happy to have someone use what I thought to make. My intent in creating is to express what goes on through my head. I also use visuals explicitly and vividly, leaving little room for interpretation. It’s easy to relate to and I create from this intent. To share my life with others, to have them not just witness it, but to participate in it.

7. How long does it usually take to create one piece from start to finish?

Some pieces end up coming to life in 2 weeks and yet some can take up to 6-8 weeks.

8. What drew you to the medium(s) you work with?

I've always been more attracted to the textile crafts of India and have much wider experience in painting with acrylics. So it was funny to end up in a medium I never imagined or practised. I was studying in NID and applied for a seat in textile design but I didn't get it because of lesser grades. I ended up in Ceramic as a second choice. The scope of ceramics in India was still not very attractive back then but a trip to Israel changed my perspective to include the international scope of this craft. Once I saw how deeply it is appreciated in some parts of the world, I couldn't wait to mark my Indian print on it.

9. How do you see art products being perceived in an Indian market?

Kindly. Not too enthusiastically but encouragingly. I love to hear how happy it makes people to witness these designs. It takes a while to turn this appreciation into support through purchases but it is happening more and more so.

10. You've said that you're interested in making ceramic pieces that “don’t look like ceramic at all.” What does this challenge mean to you creatively, and how does it shape the kind of work you produce?

I think it just comes from wanting to challenge an audience's perception of the material. In general, I’m a huge fan of art that challenges the traditional way to do something but in an impactful manner. I have always painted realistically and I thought to bring that element to my ceramic where I would try to make it look like something else altogether.

11. Your studio once functioned as a teaching and residency space, and is now open for aspiring potters. How has that transition influenced you and the community around your studio?

I lose interest in teaching people this craft for their own purpose and I enjoy teaching them the craft for the purpose of my brand. I want to teach people my techniques and all the skills I’ve developed in all these years to take my own vision forward. They develop as potters in their own journey and join me in mine, it feels like a win win. 

12. You describe yourself as working “between pop culture and artisanal craft.” In your view, what possibilities open up when handmade ceramic meets mass cultural references?

I think as humans, we love putting everything in boxes and making sense of things that way. I like all these boxes and find myself scattered in so many of them. So many of us scattered in vacant spaces in the middle. I think there’s an audience for everyone and I’m just happy to find people that like my scattered pieces.

13. Designs like Boxer Planters and Laila in a Corset exuberates quirkiness. What draws you to creating these quirky, character-driven ceramic objects? What kind of response do you hope they provoke amongst the audience?

I love characters, I love people, colours, prints and the context of why people choose to look a certain way, dress a certain way. I find life extremely interesting and enjoyable and I simply try to show that by capturing my points of interest and admiration for the characters in it.

14. Is there a song that captures the spirit of your work or something you love listening to while creating?

I’m a big fan of music and various artists, musicians, composers and bands are a huge part of the love I have for life.
We listen to Ella Fitzgerald, Black Sabbath, Artie Shaw, Bappi Lahiri, The Strokes, Billy Joel, Mehdi Hassan, A P Dhillon, Sukhbir quite consistently in the studio. This list is endless and more diverse than I just made it sound, we love music and we listen to everything.

Obsessed already? Same. Shop Vivikoh Studio's art and bring a piece of their world home on Kala Curry.