From a childhood immersed in the rebellious energy of bands like Megadeth and the surreal world of graphic novels to a profound exploration of self through art amidst turbulent times in Assam, Santanu Hazarika used it all to transform his life. He had a swift ascent in art and design that started from humble beginnings in Assamese culture, where art was a cultural staple intertwined with religious expression. He started by copying comic book characters that paved the way for a deeper artistic exploration. His transition from imitation to innovation was marked by a period of introspection and fuelled by struggles with clinical depression, during which art became both a sanctuary and a means of profound expression. In our conversation with the artist, popularly known as the World Doodle Champion, he shares insights into his creative process, collaborations with international brands, and the societal responsibilities of artists in today’s world.
Talk to us about your journey and how your art has evolved. How different is the Santanu of now?
Over the years, I have become more informed and confident. Initially, I focused on honing my skills and improving my ability to express myself. As both an artist and a field engineer, I understand theimportance of process and execution. To bring my visions to life, I needed a specific set of skills, which required a lot of practice, patience, and discipline—qualities I developed through my engineering career and my art. Now, I have a deeper understanding of myself, my inspirations, and what I truly want to achieve. This combination has made me more confident as an artist. The practice and patience I’ve cultivated allow me to create the art I envision. Mentally, I’ve experienced a lot, and I can now integrate all these experiences, which instils a strong sense of confidence in me.
What part did your culture play in your art? And apart from that, what do you feed yourself with to keep creating?
Culture is a significant part of my art. As people from Assam, we have a unique approach to art, culture, and music. Our perspectives on religion, nature, and food all influence who I am as an artist and a person. For instance, we practice a religion called Shakadi or Honkodi, a form of neo-nationalism without traditional rules and regulations. It was founded by Shankar Dev, who had his own language and is considered one of the oldest playwrights in history. Our form of worship primarily relies on music, art, dramatization, and literature. This was our way of worship; we didn’t have idols. We have a place called Namghor, where we keep a dome-shaped small ornament called a Horoi, usually adorned with a gomusa, the weave of the people. We don’t necessarily pray to it; our prayers are through enactment, dramatization, music, and storytelling. Art is ingrained in our culture in a very religious way. This has profoundly affected me, giving me a unique perspective. However, when I moved out, I saw different forms of worship, such as temple worship, which were very different from my approach to religion and culture. Storytelling is also a crucial part of our culture. Assamese history is not taught in our schools or history books, so our schools and parents took it upon themselves to teach us our heritage, culture, and proud dynasty. We are very proud of our culture and who we are. Nature is one of our primary inspirations. We devote ourselves to nature, and our culture relies on space, nature, art, and music. As kids, we were introduced to art and culture as a duty we are born with. Apart from my cultural influences, I feed my creativity with various sources. I enjoy reading mangas, graphic books, and comic books by artists like Tom McFarlane, James Jean, and Takashi Murakami. Their figurative and illustrative art forms inspire me. Cinema is also a huge influence on my work. Directors like Alejandro Jodorowsky, Gaspar Noé, and Robert Eggers inspire me with their storytelling, framing, and visualization techniques. Fashion is another significant inspiration for me. I don’t limit myself to two-dimensional art; I enjoy creating clothes, sneakers, and other functional items like car gadgets.
You’ve worked with a plethora of brands in the past with diverse aesthetics. How did you marry your sensibility with their products?
I have worked with many brands over the last decade, collaborating with over 100 brands. Initially, it was challenging to make them understand that my aesthetic is uniqueand my inspirations come from various sources worldwide, not just one specific thing. My influences range from metal to hip-hop, and I study different art forms extensively. Even now, I continue to research various art forms. All the brands want to do something out of the box. I conduct thorough research on the brand I am working with. It’s a process of reverse engineering, going back to the original inspirations, and then coming up with ideas by combining them with completely different forms of art to create a unique visual identity. This approach ensures that the brands feel my art is fresh. At the same time, it has to do with the style of your work. When I started, having an artistic style was rare, and visual artists were often seen as graphic designers. Not many artists were known for their distinctive style, or it was not popularized. However, things have changed completely over the years. I made it a point to make my style more prevalent, reproducing my kind of work consistently. Now, everyone recognizes my style immediately.
In today’s volatile climate, what are your artistic concerns and how do you approach them with your art? Do you feel responsible as an artist?
In today’s volatile climate, my artistic concerns often revolve around the struggles we face as artists to express ourselves freely. Various entities may try to subdue our voices, but this only strengthens my resolve. We, as artists, need to be stronger and rebel more cautiously and efficiently. This volatile time will breed different kinds of artists, a whole new breed of expression that questions unjustifiable things. In this day and age, we have so many tools to express ourselves in ways we never thought possible. We have the power, no matter how big the force of oppression is. No matter how hard they try to shut us up, we have the tools and the strength to scream and shout louder than ever before. More than being concerned, I am excited and invigorated to see how we, as artists, express this volatile nature of existence and time through various mediums and art forms. Every disaster, every inhuman act, every war has given birth to some of the greatest artists and art forms in existence. That’s the silver lining I see in today’s time. And about being responsible as an artist, it’s a double-edged sword. As an artist, I feel that nothing should affect my expression or my art. Nothing should influence what I try to show the world or my subjective reality. However, my reality is shaped by the things that surround me. My existence is also objective because I am a human being living in a society. It would be wrong to say that I have no responsibility as an artist, but it would also be wrong to say that I am morally obligated for everything happening around me that affects society. It’s about balance. Sometimes, as an artist, I want to express things that are primal in nature, which might be looked down upon or not be very acceptable. Other times, I want to express myself in a way that feels accepted and responsible, putting out a voice that helps someone cope with something or stands on stronger moral ground. I think I dwell in both zones equally, and it’s the balance that matters to me.
How do you overcome a creative block?
There are two ways to go about it. One approach is to keep creating, no matter how bad the block is. I make it a point to maintain discipline. That discipline helps me overcome the block. Even if I’m uninspired, I’ll give it a shot, even if it’s just a stick figure. On the other hand, sometimes I take a long break. I don’t force myself to create anything. Instead, I do everything else but make or touch my art. I’ll engage in various activities. After a few days or a week, I often find that I break out of my creative block and end upcreating something I like.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 14.09.2024