Life & Work with Nimisha Doongarwal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nimisha Doongarwal.

Hi Nimisha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is of a young Indian Immigrant who came to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science. Growing I had an interest in art as I was always copying my mom’s art. Instead of becoming an artist, I pursued a career in engineering and currently work as an Engineering Manager at a tech firm. However, my long-time interest in art history and psychology led me to Stanford University’s Continuing Studies program in 2014. Later, I enrolled in the MFA program at the Academy of Arts University to continue my artistic journey. For me, art was more than just being able to paint, I wanted to create and change the world through the power of art.

My real art journey started in 2017 when I attended a plein-air painting residency in Italy, where I fulfilled my lifelong dream of painting in Venice and Florence. However, I felt that my artwork lacked a certain depth, and as an Indian, I was naturally drawn to vibrant colors. This inspired me to transition from creating landscapes to more expressive and colorful dream-like paintings of landscapes and cityscapes. But I still felt that I needed to do more to express my social discomfort.

During the Trump administration in 2017-2018, I reflected on my identity and that of immigrants in the US. This led me to create mixed-media paintings that emphasize “Hybrid Identities.” One of my early works combined a colonial portrait of a British woman with Indian colors, patterns, icons, and fabric to illustrate the cultural overlap during colonization.

Although I once believed that painting was the only way to be considered an artist, I realized a few years ago that it was not enough to convey my artistic concepts. Today, I primarily use collaging as my medium because it perfectly resonates with the layered identities that we all have in the contemporary world. My creative process mirrors the way our identities are formed over time, influenced by a mix of cultures, surroundings, experiences, and present realities.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been an easy road, but I firmly believe where there’s a will, there’s a way. My story is quite interesting – becoming an artist had always been my dream, but growing up in India, my only options seemed to be either becoming an engineer or a doctor. So, I had to give up on my dream and settle for what I had. I remember the only thing that truly brought me joy was creating, so when I became an engineer, I felt lost and unfulfilled. It was then that I looked back to my childhood and rediscovered my passion for art. However, being an immigrant in a foreign land meant I couldn’t just quit my job and pursue my dream. I had to juggle part-time art school and a full-time job, which is why I still haven’t completed my MFA, which started in 2014. Some days, I felt like giving up, as I faced numerous rejections when applying for calls.

My daily routine looks quite different from that of a typical artist. During the day, I work as an engineer, and at night, I get to my studio to explore my artistic side. I’ve been leading this double life since 2013, and I enjoy it tremendously, even though it means that my days and weekends are always jam-packed. Art is my passion, and I don’t mind working for hours without food or water. However, one funny incident I remember is when I took a week off from work and finished seven paintings in a week, which ended up injuring my hand to the point where I couldn’t move it for a few days. That was scary, but art is what keeps me alive, so I give my everything to it.

It’s also challenging for me to be part of the artist community, as I don’t have the luxury of strolling through galleries or attending exhibitions during the day like full-time artists do. I only have weekends and nights to be an artist, so I try to make the most of that time.

My husband Santosh is my constant source of support and encouragement that helps me keep going day in day out. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my dream to be an artist. He is like a beacon of hope for me during my low moments when I feel like giving up.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an artist, I am committed to exploring and challenging the intersections of race, gender, and post-colonialism in my work. My art serves as a means of personal and political expression, drawing attention to the experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities. I create mix-media portraiture that is both visually striking and thought-provoking. These portraits represent imaginary people shaped by their stories, emphasizing the idea that we are unique individuals beyond appearances. I use diverse media to bridge imagination and reality and challenge conventional notions of identity by celebrating diversity and cultural heritage.

One thing that sets me apart from others is my deep interest in using my art to challenge traditional notions of beauty and identity, celebrating the diverse journeys of my subjects. I often incorporate elements of my cultural heritage and history into my work, reclaiming and celebrating the rich traditions and histories of colonized peoples.

I am particularly interested in the ways in which post-colonialism continues to shape our world and the art that we create. To create my pieces, I follow a consistent methodology, but I use various materials and techniques. I start by conducting thorough research and collecting a curated assortment of materials such as old photographs, old newspapers and magazines, and fabrics sourced from India. I then subject these materials to image transfer, collage, and painting, resulting in about 7-10 layers. The physical marks made in my work follow a repetitive cycle of tearing and layering prints, collaging, painting, stamping, and adding fabric. The layers vary in size, saturation, and opacity to emphasize compositions and concepts, highlighting cultural ethnicity through the use of found materials.

Overall, I am most proud of the impact that my art has had in raising awareness of the ongoing struggles and triumphs of women and marginalized communities. Through my work, I strive to create space for dialogue and change, encouraging viewers to think more deeply about the ways in which gender and racial biases shape our society. As an artist, I aim to inspire viewers to work towards dismantling systems of inequality. My art serves as a platform for change, amplifying marginalized voices and experiences. “Seeing people from the heart, not just the eyes, allows us to appreciate their stories and experiences.”

How do you think about luck?
Although I’m not a big believer in luck, I do think that it plays a role in achieving success. My journey to where I am today has been a combination of both fortunate events and calculated risks that I’ve taken. I firmly believe that if you don’t take any action, you’ll inevitably fail, so even taking a risk with a 50/50 chance of success is better than doing nothing at all. However, I don’t think that luck is the only factor that determines success – hard work is also crucial. As an artist, I encountered numerous rejections and setbacks when I first began, and I still do. It would have been easy to abandon my dream and settle for my already well-built career. With each failure, I reminded myself that luck wasn’t the only factor contributing to my lack of success. I realized that I needed to work harder, learn from my failures, and strive to improve. Each time I fell short, it strengthened my resolve and made me more resilient. Eventually, my hard work paid off and I began to experience some lucky breaks.

Additionally, I was fortunate to have a strong support system comprising my family, friends. They give me the necessary encouragement and motivation to keep pushing forward. And lucky to have exceptional mentors who provided guidance throughout my career.

Pricing:

• Small painting: 12X12- 1200-1600$
• Medium: 24X24: 3800-4800$
• Large: 5200-6000$

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nimishart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimishart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nimishart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimisha-doongarwal-37838511/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nimishart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nimishart8402

Image Credits
Profile picture by LISA FOOTE (http://www.lisafoote.art)