Sravya Attaluri is an Indian artist and Illustrator based in Hong Kong.
She has been reaching people far and wide and attempting to break the stigma around mental health, feminism and body issues with her art.
Here’s an interview with her where she talks about how she came up with this idea and what more she wishes to achieve through her pursuit.
Q. How did your artistic journey begin?
I have always been creative, ever since I was a kid. I spent a lot of time going to art classes as a kid and eventually ended up pursuing art in university and as a career! I was always drawn to art in one medium or another so it felt quite natural to dive deeper and deeper into the art world.
Q. Why did you choose to use art as a form of advocacy?
I believe that art has the power to motivate and educate by evoking emotion. For me personally, I find that I can articulate myself better through creative mediums, so I want to use the medium I know best to talk about the things that matter to me.
Q. Why illustrate about mental health and feminism?
My art has always been based on my personal experiences, thoughts and emotions. When I was going through depression, I found that I could articulate my emotions through my art to people who didn’t understand what I was going through. Similarly, I’m documenting my journey as I learn more about feminism in hopes that other people can also learn about it. My aim has always been to create art about topics that have impacted me personally and that I’m passionate about.
Q. Where do you get inspiration for your illustrations?
My inspiration mostly comes from childhood illustration books that I used to read. I still remember those images today and that’s what makes me realize how important and lasting a powerful illustration can be. That’s what I use. I also grew up reading a lot of Economist thanks to my dad so I’ve been collecting clippings of my favorite artworks over the years.
Q. Share a few experiences where your art has influenced/ touched someone deeply and they reached out to you with their stories.
A few men have reached out to me and shared that my art like “Normalize men needing emotional support” and “Show your son that it’s okay to cry” have allowed them to have important discussions with their children about mental health. I could not be happier that my art has started conversations in people’s homes. I really believe that’s where most of the change in our society comes from – open communication within communities.
I have also had people tell me that my art made them feel less alone / feel heard. I know how difficult it can be when you’re feeling down and alone, and I’m so thankful that my art could be there for someone at the right time.
Q. What work goes into an average illustration you draw?
I start with a lot of research and planning – sometimes a few days of brainstorming, then I draw out thumbnail sketches, narrow them down into a few detailed sketches, then final sketch, inking, coloring, and then a final round of editing once again!
Q. Does your audience reach out to you for advice/ support?
They do, I’m so glad they trust me! I am happy to help with all things art-related but I don’t give any advice regarding mental health because I am an artist, not a mental health expert. I usually try to give a few resources that they can reach out to if they are looking for professional help.
Q. Share a few of your pieces which have you are proud of. Do share the story behind each piece – how the idea came about and what are you trying to convey via it.
“You are so much more than your physical body” – A lot of the advice I give through my art is actually me talking to myself. I am currently struggling with my body dysmorphia and have an unhealthy relationship with my mirror. I wanted to depict myself distancing myself from the mirror to remember that I need to value myself beyond my physical body.
“We all cope in different ways” – When the pandemic first started, everyone started posting about how people should take care of their health but I found it very overwhelming. My feed was flooded with workout challenges and productivity tips. I felt guilty about lying in bed with anxiety. So I wanted to create a reminder that while working or exercising may help some people, others may need to cope by being in bed. This goes beyond the pandemic. People cope differently when dealing with stress, depression, grief, or anger. We need to be more understanding of one another and not be so quick to judge.
Q. Are you the protagonist of your artworks/ Is she a reflection of you in some ways?
The majority of my artworks are based on me in some way or another because I don’t like representing groups of people that I do not belong to (unless I’ve been commissioned or I’ve been requested). My illustrations of men are all based on the men in my life that I am close to and the experiences that they’ve shared with me. I also did not see a lot of art with women and men that looked like the people in my life so I make sure to focus on this type of representation.
Q. Men’s mental health is often not spoken about (as compared to women’s). What can artists do to start narratives around it?
First of all, if you are not a man, talk to a man about his experiences. I know that sounds simple, but as a woman, I don’t like to assume that I know what men are going through. My art has been based on honest conversations with the men in my life about their experiences. I try to remind myself that I am just trying to help convey someone else’s message.
I guess for artists that want to start narratives around men’s mental health, try to increase the representation of men struggling with mental health through your art. Do not be scared to be honest and raw with your art. Try to capture the emotions that men go through.
Q. What are your plans ahead? / Where do you think this initiative is headed in the next 5 years?
I usually like to stay in the present and not plan more than a year at a time! Thinking about the future gives me anxiety because things are so uncertain – especially after the pandemic. I just want to continue creating art. I hope that in 5 years my art will develop to a point where I can cover more mental health issues in-depth and reach more people. I don’t want to limit myself to just illustration because if it no longer brings me happiness, I will probably stop. But I know that I will still be creative through one creative medium or another to continue my mental health advocacy.
You can connect with Sravya through
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sravya_attaluri/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sravya_attaluri
Website: https://www.artbysravya.com/
Please note that copyright for all the images used in this feature lies with Sravya Attaluri. Do not copy/ use without the artist’s permission.
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