Connect
To Top

Check Out Nazish Chunara’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nazish Chunara.

Hi Nazish, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I wouldn’t describe my experience as one that is whimsical enough for storytelling, but I suppose there is a narrative in here somewhere. I remember truly enjoying art at 12 years old. That is when I latched on to it. I say “latch” because it was how my peers referred to me, so I suppose it became an identity of sorts. In hindsight, however, that was restricting. Through high school and while applying for college, I held onto that persona, hoping it would take me somewhere and I would be something. So, I attempted art school and fashion design school, but somehow now, I am an aeronautical science student researching unmanned aerial systems and international humanitarian law. My decisions have been informed by my trauma, from identity building through art to voicing my thoughts and feelings through painting, to wanting to learn more about trauma; personal, communal, ancestral, and studying the relationship between technology and trauma.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Let’s backtrack a decade or so. I experienced a traumatic event as a child, a couple of years before I held a paintbrush. That, alone, destroyed my chances of building an identity. It remained that way for a very, very long time. At 25, I was finally coerced into meeting a therapist which turned out to be one of the things I am most grateful for. During the years that I was treated by her, I realized I wasn’t doing much or not doing enough – in the global sense. I was so tied up in my trauma that I could not see the bigger picture – the world, the community I lived in, the friends I had, and my family. I felt constantly judged and eventually realized that I was doing the judging. Of course, judging is human nature, but with mental health, it becomes an immersive experience, one that takes over your entire being.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Now, decades after picking up painting, I blend it with language, sound, history, and aeronautics. It’s an interesting combination that requires me to constantly stay on top of each factor. This means I need to continue learning new words in Gujarati, or I need to better understand music and its influences, and I need to discover more stories about my ancestors. This also means synthesizing all this in my academic research that meshes unmanned systems and trauma on civilians who are often living in regions where war has not been officially declared – deeming it asymmetrical warfare, among many other descriptions. Here, it is important to understand the devolution of language, culture, and autonomy.

What matters most to you? Why?
Exploration matters. It leads you to new ideas, understandings, empathy, and compassion, and maybe even helps you uncover ways to mesh your interests with those of your community, or society, or even nation. Through art, literature, and academics, it is possible to learn enough to keep moving. Using my art, I’ve tried to better understand my grandparents’ lives, I’ve supported political and social movements, and given free art lessons to kids. Through academia, I have been able to explore trauma, technology, and its practical forms. Most importantly, these are channels of communication, something I feel like I did not develop properly.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
1. Bandhani Front, a traditional Gujarati tie-die process 2. Bandhani Back, a traditional Gujarati tie-die process 3. Bandhani Immersion, traditional Gujarati fiber art in a digital silhouette 4. Civilization [sold], travel sketchbook, watercolor on paper 6. Self-Portrait [commissioned], watercolor and ink on canvas

Suggest a Story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in local stories