The art of storytelling

Gaurav Ogale has never been restricted by any one definition of art or design, and that has served him well as a visual artist

How did your foray into design academics begin?

GO: For some time now, I have been researching and trying to decipher what contemporary millennials mean by esthetics. In the age of social media and scrolling endlessly through our feed on digital platforms, what is it that attracts or makes people stop and wonder? That led me into designing a module on understanding contemporary esthetics and visual documentation for the design students of ISDI Parsons in Mumbai. I started working on a visual research proposal for a contemporary art residency in Berlin. I will be the visiting visual researcher there in 2021, my subject of research being ‘Millennial Migrant Esthetics in the Land of Transit’.

What is the importance of storytelling on social media?

GO: Storytelling on social media today is a lot about self-branding and creating an identity for yourself and your work. People don’t want to see a feed that has everything or is scattered; they want it to be intimate no matter how noisy the online space is. I actually think social media is extremely intimate. The audience is very sensitive. They are listening and want to be part of your journey, so you have to tell the stories that come most naturally to you, stories that don’t let you sleep until they are out of your stomach.

How do you overcome a creative block?

GO: Over the years, especially after my stint in advertising, creating has become a part of my brain – it’s my job. Advertising trains you to think relentlessly round the clock. But I often find myself thinking and ideating the most when I am cooking or cycling around the city or staring endlessly at the sea. For me inspiration comes from the most mundane spaces and activities.

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