Interview with Maya Chowdhry
/“Failure is part of the creative process.”
We spoke to writer and artist Maya Chowdhry ahead of her workshop on countermapping which is being held as part of our This Is Who We Are project.
What three words best describe you?
Inquisitive, passionate, empathetic
What do you most enjoy about being a writer?
How the combinations of words coming together in a poem to become a force for change.
What is a creative masterpiece you wish you had written?
The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House by Audre Lorde
What's an important piece of insider knowledge you have as a multidisciplinary artist?
Failure is part of the creative process.
What is the most challenging aspect of being an artist and/or writer?
Deciding when an artwork or a poem is finished.
Do you find that there are any similarities between your career as a writer and as an artist? Any differences?
Writing is more solitary than creating artworks, which I predominately create collaboratively.
Can you talk briefly about the issues your work is about?
I’m striving for a democratic and ethical creative practice exploring social justice issues, so anything from interspecies care to seed sovereignty to climate justice.
Tell us about an upcoming project that excites you.
I currently working with the National Oceanography Centre collaborating to create ‘Walk With Us’ - two self-guided walks along the sea fronts of Penzance and Dawlish, combining poetic audio with augmented reality visuals: https://walkwithus.uk.
