10 Questions with Nithya Guthikonda

Nithya is a photographer from Atlanta, Georgia. She is focused on conveying narrative through photography and prose. Nithya’s works have been recognized by international galleries and publications, including Aint-Bad Magazine, LoosenArt, and ITSLIQUID GROUP.

www.nithiphotography.com | @nithi_photography

ARTIST STATEMENT

Nithya’s project conveys the raw emotions rooted within the very word "quarantine". Quarantine is a period of isolation. It is the boxing-in of ourselves, and in turn, our identities and goals, and desires. She conveys the festering within each of us as we continue to live through this time. Our mental states take hold as we experience the world, maybe at its best and worst.

INTERVIEW

Could you tell us a little more about your background? How did you start experimenting with images? 

I have been interested in photography for 10 years, and my style has developed greatly over the years. I originally started off with photographing birds. Since then, I have transitioned to nature and landscape photography, and more recently, fashion and street photography. 

What is your personal aim as an artist? 

For my photography projects, I work towards integrating personal elements with the events and scenery around me. I try to find intimate meaning with each inanimate being, as I believe every place or concrete thing has an inner identity. For my project Quarantine Summer, I chose photos of tangible moments and objects and paired them with poems about my personal thoughts and emotions. 

What do you hope that the public takes away from your work? 

In this project, I focus on a concept familiar to everyone during this time: quarantine. I attempt to give a personal identity to this word, merging the definition of quarantine with my own journey through it. Using raw, candid photos, I hope to bring out a sense of freedom but also nausea within the viewer. I believe liberation comes with the idea of uncovering truths, those which may be uncomfortable and even disturbing. I focus on creating a balance -or imbalance rather- of the physical and the abstract: real moments challenging an underlying emotional upset. Through my project, I hope to give others insight and a chance to reflect on their own experiences with quarantine.  

Your series reflects on the very notion of "quarantine" and how the pandemic changed our normality. How has your artistic process changed over the past year?  

My style of photography is constantly evolving, but over the past year, I have been experimenting with different methods of communication through photos, i.e., photojournalism, memoir, photo essays. Last year, I started combining elements of photography and poetry into series, and "Quarantine Summer" was the first of this kind.

What was the most challenging part of your project? 

The most technically challenging aspect of this project is creating a cohesive collection of both poems and images. Each picture is different from the other in subject, composition, and even color. My goal was to create poetry that would connect these distinct pictures together and establish a comprehensive meaning for the series as a whole. Putting this project together was also emotionally difficult, as I was intimate with both the pictures I chose and the content of my poems. On a personal level, "Quarantine Summer" is a confession to a part of my life I had hoped to forget.

How do you see the project evolving in the upcoming years?

"Quarantine Summer" is a series that focuses specifically on my experience with the pandemic. Though this project is final, I plan to create a series for every summer. I would pick a different central theme for each year, but one that fits into the overarching concept of personal experience and identity. 

What would you like to experiment with in the future? 

I would love to experiment with different cameras. I currently shoot on a Nikon DSLR, but I would love to try out other camera types, brands, and lenses. Film cameras spike my interest, specifically medium format cameras. I also want to experiment with other genres of photography, like portrait photography. I have been learning more about other fields as well and hope to dabble in them soon. 

Do you find that the shift to digital exhibitions and art fairs has helped you promote your work?

Because of the pandemic, many galleries and magazines have started to prioritize their online presence, which was very useful to learn about other artists and have the opportunity to showcase my own work. The digital galleries' switch has helped my work gain exposure, as they are more accessible to everyone. Also, not only is it easier but more economical to have online installations of artworks.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about? 

In the future, I plan to create more projects surrounding concepts that have shaped my identity. One project that I would love to undertake focuses on the place my ancestors lived, a rural village in India called Tenali. Many of my extended relatives still live there whom I have never met. I feel as if there is a piece of me in that village; I just need to go there and find it, find myself. I hope to visit soon and use what I learn about my history to create a photo memoir.  

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you? 

Apart from photography and creative writing, I am also an international competitive fencer and birdwatching enthusiast.