“As a person of color, I know race can't be stripped from admiration or preference.” KnowsPersonsRaceColorAdmirationPreference Author:Vivek Shraya
“If anything, I have witnessed the ways my art travels, or is rendered more accessible, when sanctioned by or connected to white artists.” IfsWayArtArtistWhiteConnected Author:Vivek Shraya
“I am more likely to get paid for my art if it's presented alongside a white artist, so the questions around value and agency arise: What choices should I make, or do I have to make, if I want to be compensated for my work? Why isn't my art valued on its own?” IfsWantShouldArtArtistValuesChoicesWhitePaidAriseAgencyShould I Author:Vivek Shraya
“Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely because of their race and my politics? This question is weighted with my own worry that I have been invited to speak or collaborate solely because of my race, and not because of my abilities.” ShouldHas BeensArtistSpeakMy OwnAbilityRaceWorryColorShould IInvitedCollaborating Author:Vivek Shraya
“Despite the fact that I'm not highly skilled in any visual art, aesthetics have always played a strong role in my art, including my first albums.” FirstsArtFactsStrongRolesIncludingAlbumsDespiteVisualsAestheticsVisual Art Author:Vivek Shraya
“I have always considered the aesthetic of a project, including press photos, as a means to further the message of the art itself.” MeanArtProjectsMessagesPressesIncludingAesthetic Author:Vivek Shraya
“Children's books have great potential to reveal new possibilities to readers, because the intended audience is at an age of genuine learning.” ChildrenBookAgeAudiencePossibilityReaderGenuineChildren's BooksNew Possibilities Author:Vivek Shraya
“Children are receptive to talking about gender creativity, confirming the importance of the book as a means to instigate this dialogue at an early age.” MeanChildrenBookAgeTalkingCreativityImportanceGenderDialogueReceptive Author:Vivek Shraya
“I recently did a reading at an elementary school in Ottawa, and one of the children asked me if I was a girl. I said yes. Another child commented that I had a deep voice. I responded: "Can girls have deep voices?" There was a pause and then the group responded, "Yes!"” IfsChildrenSaidSchoolGirlReadingVoiceGroupsPausesElementary SchoolOttawa Author:Vivek Shraya
“Music is my first love, where my artistic journey began.” FirstsJourneyMusic IsArtisticFirst Love Author:Vivek Shraya