Mobile Photography and Art – ‘Hope in Adversity’ Interview with Cintia Malhotra from New Jersey, United States
Today, we are publishing our twenty first interview in our new series, Hope in Adversity. One that’s based around art, artists and isolation during the midst of Covid-19. This interview is with award winning mobile photographer with Cintia Malhotra from New Jersey, United States. Malhotra is a visual artist and educator who has been involved in the arts community since childhood. Despite having visual impairment, she chose to focus on the visual arts. Much of her photography involves a combination of abstraction and personification to create a narrative for the viewer. In addition to this, she explains “I often like to explore social issues and reconnect with the human experience by capturing moments of daily life. Sometimes I prefer to draw or paint as a means of stepping away from technology. This respite is important for my vision to be refreshed and focus on a new project“. You will see as you read and view this interview, that Malhotra is currently embracing this sentiment in totality. Enjoy!
If you are social distancing or social isolating at this time, are you using any additional time you may have to create mobile digital art or photography?
I have been physically isolated for almost 5 weeks now and I’ve been working from home. The first few weeks were very stressful because I was dealing with an eye injury in my dominant eye, which limited my time on screen. It took about 3 weeks to fully recover. Since then I have been making it a point to take photos and/or videos focusing on what I see daily. Not just for myself but for others because I think art is great therapy in stressful times – whether it’s as a maker or observer.
If so, have you noticed the style of art that you’re creating changing from what you would normally create?
My initial reaction to this question was no — not in style per se — but the more I thought about it, I realized there was a change because of one important element – time, time, time. This has become extremely precious to me in the recent years. I guess one benefit of getting older is appreciating the time one has left ahead of them. I am an escapist by nature and the extra time allows me to get lost in a daydream or story that fills my head a while longer.
©Cintia Malhotra
If yes, to the above, can you explain how your art has changed?
Since I am working from home for now, my daily routine is less structured. In the silence and (blissful) solitude I can delve deeper into my imagination. Since my eye has healed, I can concentrate more on creating on a daily basis. The style of my work has not changed much but the additional time has helped me give more attention to details and I have been more productive — the past week and a half, anyway. Ha! Also, am able to experiment/play with different apps and techniques – which I am really enjoying.
Have you found additional inspiration to create at this time?
I love reading about and watching documentaries about the lives of artists from the early to mid-20th Century. I am reacquainting myself with the books on my shelves and watching the YouTube videos I’ve only had the time to bookmark!
Is creating mobile digital art/photography, helping you at this time specially, how and why?
Definitely. I am primarily a photographer and digital art/enhancements are at times necessary for the work to fully express my feelings. The process of creating is very therapeutic. Though I am maker by nature, at this time the process has been essential in coping with the situation. I worry for my mother who lives in the town next to me and am frustrated by press conferences that offer little comfort — oh, my, did I say that? 😉
Do you feel that sharing mobile art/photography at this time is spreading a unity of peace?
Absolutely. I think most of us are appreciative, or have a new appreciation, for the different (creative) communities we take part in. Sharing our points of view or experiences in dealing with this pandemic has been unifying for sure. Sharing work with others outside the community pulls them into our frame and they don’t feel as alone in this. I find that is the case with the responses received about the videos I’ve posted. The content or meaning to me has not changed, but it’s meaning to others has. Maybe, right now, they need to escape for a while too.
‘One of Many Places’ ©Cintia Malhotra
‘I need to zoom in and out to see the light… sometimes it’s blurry’ ©Cintia Malhotra
Anything else you would personally like to add, please add it here.
I do believe society will change because of this experience – more than just dropping the handshake – and we will be standing at a multi-pronged fork in the road. There are opportunities to fix what was broken. My hope is that we chose to put the best interests of our families, communities, and the other beings we share this planet with at the foreground. Imagine what that might be like?
Also, thank you Joanne for all the work you do to advocate for and cultivate a supportive community for mobile artists and photographers.
Please read…
TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over.
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Please consider making a donation to TheAppWhisperer as this New Year commences because your support helps protect our independence and it means we can keep delivering the promotion of mobile artists that’s open for everyone around the world.
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
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