“Today I choose to be happy.” These are very powerful words coming from artist and illustrator Sravya Attaluri. These are words we can all learn to live by a little more. Art is used for many things, but one of my favorites is when it is used to make you happy and to celebrate yourself. Well, I’m also all about it being used to fight the man and bring light to important issues. The beautiful thing about Sravya’s work is that she does all of the above! Born in India, raised in Korea and Hong Kong, Sravya uses her artistic and creative prowess to encourage feminist thought and debunk mental health stigmas. Please look further to read our exclusive interview with Sravya and see some of our favorites.

Where are you based?
I was born in India, raised in Korea and Hong Kong, lived in the United States for five years, and now am based in Hong Kong again!

How did you develop your passion for art and design? Can you recall some early experiences or influences that you accredit as inspiration?
From a young age, I was really in love with being creative, whether it was painting, sculpture, or photography. My earliest influence would be Art Attack! The show taught me how to think big and use unconventional materials. I explored so many different mediums that I realized it was more important for me to be creative consistently rather than focus on just one method. I also learned how to communicate through different mediums which became very important later in life.

I was also very interested in children's book illustrations, especially Nick Sharrat – the illustrator for Jacqueline Wilson's books and Tony Ross. I loved the fact that these illustrations could visually communicate a story and I was inspired by hand-drawn styles.

Love how you did a 100-day challenge, which seemed to turn into an everyday moving forward kind of thing, to illustrate something that makes you happy. Can you tell us a little bit about this experience and what you learned about it?
Yes! Originally my emphasis in college was painting and graphic design. However, when I started working as a full-time designer, I realized that I didn't have enough free time to be able to paint consistently. So, I decided to explore digital illustration.

I thought doing a 100-day challenge and sharing on Instagram would help me record my progress and I could also hold myself accountable at the same time. Every day I would draw what was on my mind, and towards the end it became clear that I was using the illustrations as a way to record my interests, my likes, and essentially, what made me happy daily.

I've never really been able to keep up with a diet or workout regime for too long (oops)! so when I did complete the 100 days, I not only improved my illustration skills, but I also realized that I enjoy illustration so much that I'm able to do it every day without feeling burdened.

Much of your artwork focuses on themes centered around a unique mix of humor, mental health, and feminist ideologies. Can you tell us why these are so important to you?
My artwork has always been a place for me to communicate my thoughts, beliefs, and values. At a very young age, I was interested in creating art around mental health as I found it easier to visually communicate what I was going through than to verbally articulate the pain.

Art has also been a way for me to understand my own identity and that's where the humor and feminist ideologies come from.

Do you find creating art has helped you cope with your own mental health?
Definitely! As a teenager, I was dealing with depression and the loss of a loved one. I channeled my pain into art and the result was extremely dark. Most people did not want to be confronted with this type of dark imagery. But these reactions made me want to pursue it further. I wanted to see if I could push people to confront their mental health perceptions through my work.

This is when I started to take my art more seriously. I put all my pain and anger into art. And it was cathartic. I was able to visualize, confront, and accept my pain. Eventually, I was able to let it go. My spiritual journey and artistic journey have always been interlinked. Since overcoming my depression, I have been focused on pursuing daily happiness, and this is the basis for my current works. My art will always reflect the state of my mental health and fluctuate between darker and lighter topics, but it has been, and will always be, about the pursuit of happiness.

What does feminism mean to you as a woman and artist?
As an artist, I feel a responsibility to use art to educate others on equality and, at the same time, record my experience as a woman. I believe art has the power to demand action and I want to able to use my art to challenge the current systems in place.

You mention identifying as a third-cultured woman of color in Hong Kong. Can you talk about your experiences growing and working in Hong Kong? How has this influenced your art?
Growing up with Indian values in an international community within Hong Kong has allowed me to understand different cultures and identify with a larger group of people.

I want to be able to show my global perspective through the values I put forward, rather than focus on specific ethnicities. In my art, I try to represent women of color, but I’m not necessarily tied to a specific culture. Growing up, I only saw stereotypical representations of Indian women in mainstream art or media and I feel a responsibility to empower women like myself to challenge these constructs.

How have you been coping with the COVID-19 pandemic? Are you still able to work during this time?
It has been extremely difficult to focus on anything. I have been working from home for over 11 weeks now, and not knowing when the world will go back to normal has increased my anxiety.

However, being at home has made me reflect on my priorities, my mental health, and my daily routine. I have been dedicating more time to my meditations, workouts, and most importantly, my family. And I'm incredibly grateful to have the privilege to do so. I am trying to give back through my art.

What is your opinion regarding the Hong Kong government's response?
Compared to other countries, Hong Kong has done a good job to contain the number of cases. The community as a whole has been following the rules and staying indoors, which has helped greatly!

We see you have a ton of great COVID related pieces coming out these days. How has drawing about the situation helped you cope with it?
I try to illustrate my anxieties and my coping strategies to communicate my daily struggles with others. Putting my thoughts down on paper has helped me manage. It's been heartwarming to hear from others that my art has helped them during this period. I want to share more about what's been working for me in hopes that it may help others.

Do you have any words or advice or encouragement for those who are struggling mentally, economically, or physically during this time?
There are so many organizations right now offering help and support for free. Please don't be afraid to speak out and share. There are so many wonderful people in the world ready to help you. If you are in a position where you can help others, please be vocal about it.

What is your motto in life?
Follow your north star!

To learn more about Sravya Attaluri, please follow her via the following platforms:
https://sravya.bigcartel.com/ (My Shop)
Instagram: sravya_attaluri
Twitter: sravya_attaluri
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5dH2YHreABtTRzsb4CjkA

Feminism and Mental Health: The Diary of Sravya Attaluri