Look at how cool and hipster goddess Kali looks in this drawing! This girl is on fire! Priyanka has stolen our hearts with her art. That rhymed. Speaking of rhymes, Priyanka Paul, the star of this read is also a poet. I swear you are going to look at her work and not believe that she’s only 18!

I suddenly feel very inferior to her. Anywho, Priyanka is a student at Xavier’s College, Mumbai. She is pursuing a degree in Mass Media and has just entered the second year. I know for sure that the future holds wonders for this girl.

So after looking at her work, I did the obvious. I contacted her which has brought us to this awesome Q&A. 

Your Instagram username is @artwhoring. Define ‘Art Whoring’.

Well, it just came up into my mind. People use the word ‘slut’ or ‘whore’ completely beyond its actual meaning. And there was a quote by Albus Dumbledore that said, “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.” People call those women ‘whores’ that don’t confirm according to societal norms, and I think that they are very bold. Bold women must be feared.

Potterhead radar is blinking uncontrollably. Excuse me.

Your Facebook profile says, ‘I talk about poop excessively.’ Let’s talk about your relationship with poop. Here, we have Poppy, our dogger-in-chief, who poops a lot.

HELLO! This might seem highly ambitious, but I reallyy really wanna create /illustrate/write/doodle a book ( or some kind of web doodle series) called 'How Not To Be A Piece Of Shit 101'. And that's exactly why I need 101 main ideas! If you've known people who are really crappy or you know people who know people who are really crappy, tag them and comment and tell me about how shitty that person was or what they did???!!! Please please, lets make this happen!? Comment or DM ideas!?? #Illustration #Shit #Poop #PieceOfShit #Draw #Pink #ShitPeople #Goo #Sketch #Draw #DigitalArt #ShitEmoji #? #Paint #Humans #Doodle #Art

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on Jun 6, 2016 at 3:11am PDT

I love to talk about poop as a conversation starter! I think it helps lighten the mood, and I feel poop is a connecting factor for people around the world. We all poop the same. Also, when I was young, I would pronounce my name as Priyanka-ka. Ka-ka in my language (Malayalam) means poop.

What kind of poop do you deal with?

Well, I’m just an average teenager with a lot to do in college. Besides that, of course, there’s all the hate my artwork receives.

So you’ve obviously faced religious trolls. How do you respond to them?

I’ve received a lot of weird comments. Someone wrote, ‘How dare you insult Goddess Kali like that?” The face she made was supposed to be a peace or victory sign, but people saw it as a sexual innuendo. Someone was also threatening to file an FIR against me. Someone said that ‘Bengalis are ruining the world,’ which is funny because I am not even remotely Bengali. I’m a South Indian, guys! I think it tells us so much about our demographic. People find it offensive if someone draws a goddess in a modern way but no one thinks before abusing a 17-year-old.

Sheesh! This is exactly what is wrong with our country.

What is one thing that you think every girl gets from goddesses?

I think many of the goddesses I drew were bold and badass. They are outspoken and lively. I think girls get that from goddesses.

Are you more artist or poet?

I would say that I am more artist. I started doodling as a kid but never took it seriously until high school.

 What career do your parents see you pursuing?

 My parents haven’t imposed their opinions on me. They are very supportive. I want to pursue a career in media or art. I want to get into art school and open up an art café in a few years.

Art Café?

Yes, Art Café. I think it’ll make a good hangout spot for artists.

Maybe Art Café will be our always, lol.

 How did your project on goddesses start?

I want eve to walk into a church naked, Snapchatting her strut to Kali, Who responds with her own tipsy stagger into a temple, Clothes from last night hanging off her in crumpled ribbon-strings, Tongue stuck out with two fingers held up under in the sign of peace (or is it one of triumphant victory?), The antics of the evening enshrined into digital immortality on Amaterasu's Instagram page, hashtagged with #FreeTheNipple, A cheeky homage, echoed in Hera's Facebook share of yet another post from a feminist page, liked by Isis, who engages the the absolute scum in pointless debate, demanding positivity, she struggles to claim, But still proclaims her body as a shrine that she's worshipped in, And as the ridicule pours in, The Goddesses stand tall, and unashamed Laughing in the face of aghast disciples, As they reclaim Reclaim Reclaim RECLAIM. – 'Pantheon' by Harnidh Kaur (@iharnidh ) Illustrating this AMAZING poem was one of the funnest thing I've done! ? I'll be uploading the goddesses individually. #Illustration#Art #Draw #Goddesses #Culture #Religion #Illustrate #Draw #Kali #Hindu #Pop #PopArt #Tumblr #Grunge #Eve #Amaterasu #Japan #Isis #Egypt #Hera #Greek #Greece #Feminism #Feminist #IntersectionalFeminist #Rad

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on May 14, 2016 at 4:39am PDT

I read this poem called ‘Pantheon’ by Harnidh Kaur. In her poem, she had imagined goddess as modern day women. Her poem was about feminism and sexual liberation. I wanted to make it a modern-day epitome of feminine divinity.

What goddess do you associate yourself with?

Goddess Kali, inspired from @iharnidh 's poem, Pantheon. ? Tumblr Kali is a badass brown girl. Loves graphic t-shirts and piercings. She's against misogyny and sexism and quite literally slays. #Tumblr #Kali #Goddess #Pantheon #Illustration #Art #Grunge #Draw #Paint #Brown #Hindu #Hinduism #God #Celestial #KaliDevi #Devi #Illustrate #Artist #inspiroindia #inspiro #feminism #women #feminist #reclaim #browngirl #curryscentedbitch #brutsubmission

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on May 14, 2016 at 12:11am PDT

When I drew the goddesses, I wrote a profile for everyone. Out of those, I feel like I could relate to Kali most because she hates misogyny and identifies as a feminist. And she’s a brown girl like me.

YAAS gurl! Kali is bawse.

Where do you find God?

I don’t think that God hovers in the sky as a supreme force. I think he exists in the universe. Everything in the universe is related. I also believe in Karma and destiny. Whatever is bound to happen will happen.

One of your Instagram posts was dedicated to your dad. What kind of relationship do you have with him?

Girls everywhere claim that their fathers are their superheroes. My father isn't my superhero. My father taught me to tie my own cape and be my own superhero. Happy Birthday to the person who's face I have sans facial hair. ? #HappyBirthday #HappyBirthdayPapa #DigitalArt #Art #Digital #Rainbow #Typography #Pastel #BirthdayCard

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on Apr 26, 2016 at 1:03am PDT

My dad and I have a weird relationship. He doesn’t talk all that much, but he is very supportive of me. As of having intellectual discussions, I turn to my mom. We have great debates on feminism.

 I think we’ll get along quite well.

How much do you sell phone covers for and how do we order them?

Well, I sell my work on two websites called PosterGully and RedBubble. I upload my designs online and get 25% commission on each sale.

 That’s not a bad sale.

Any plans to become an art entrepreneur?

Yes! I hope it happens soon! I don’t want to depend on other online stores and want to have one of mine selling only my merchandise.

I’ll probably buy half the things in her store.

What other artworks should we look forward to? 

My next project consists of drawings of women of all ages holding a pickle jar to break the taboo about menstruation, and another one is talking about new day African-American problems through African Tribes. 

Your Instagram has a LOT of flowers. What is one flower that you would like to receive from a crazy fan?

Okay, enough sunflowers now! ? #Sunflowers #Illustration #Art #SunflowerPeople #SunflowerHeads #SunFlower #Gardening #DigitalArt #Rad

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on May 31, 2016 at 7:16am PDT

Um, I think a black rose.

Why a black rose?

Because you don’t get to see those every day.

You use a lot of pop culture references. Which reference is your favourite?

I love puns. I use a lot of those in my art.

Why be a Chewtiya when you can be Chewbacca? ??? This honestly looks great on the phone covers and t-shirts (link in bio) Available in blue, pink and green (I'm so proud of this pun ok lolol) #Chewbacca #PhoneCovers #FanArt #DigitalArt #StarWars #MayTheForceBeWithYou #Desi #Chutiya #Art #Tumblr #Draw #Fandom #Starwars #Pun #Indian #Slang #DesiSlang #India #Indie #Illustration #Typography #OnlineShopping #Buy #SupportArtists #Ribbon #Banner #pun #parody #starwarspun #comic Now on my postergully page! Link in bio!

A photo posted by Priyanka Paul (@artwhoring) on Apr 22, 2016 at 9:28am PDT

‘Why be a chewtiya when you can be Chewbacca?” I mean, that is a genius pun!

Are you a tree hugger?

Yes! A huge tree hugger! I love gardening. My mom taught me gardening, and I think it is a fun way to preserve nature.

Society tries to conform us to particular body types. One of your posts says, “Why is it not socially acceptable for women to not shave?”. What body type does a goddess have in your opinion?

If you look at all my drawings, each goddess has a different body type. No one knows what a goddess looks like in real life. It’s your body at the end of the day, and I think that you shouldn’t be ridiculed for having a certain type of body. 

Be your own goddess, girls. 

Okay, so I am giving you a few words now. You have to rhyme them with the first word that comes to your mind.

1. Poop- Scoop
2. Art- Fart
3. Hit- Sh*t
4. Pray- Cray
5. Flower- Power

 Just what I had expected, lol. Great minds think alike.

Lastly, narrate us a poem that you think will have a nice message for teenage girls.

I’m 17, and I don’t know better they say

But if my best friend says she likes girls

The same way as I like boys

I don’t think you should silence her voice.

I’m 17, and I don’t know the world they say

But when I wear a skirt, and no matter what they say

I’m not asking for it; my skirt doesn’t define my worth

I’m 17, and I don’t know the world they say.

But when my arms are sexualised in every institution.

I question how the skin and bone of one gender troubled one and not vice versa.

I’m 17, and I don’t know better they say.

But if piercings and tattoos were touchstones for worth.

I’m scared the people who spewed venom at sight would be deemed virtuous.

I’m 17, and I don’t know much they say.

And if gender is what the crevices between your legs dictate.

And the individual that you date.

I wonder why a responsible adult human’s choices were put up for debate.

I’m 17, and I haven’t seen the world they say

But when a selfie with a curve on my chest is political

And teenage shenanigans is seen as critical

And my very existence can make some cringe

I wonder why my outcry too is taken for something from beyond the fringe

I’m 17, and I don’t know the world they say

but if I don’t see a difference between a gun and a bible.

I hope you realise that forcing God on me just enforces my thoughts all over.

I’m 17, and I don’t know the world they say

But if your world stands up against the atheists, the radicals, the coloured folks.

The feminists, the queer, the gay.

Forgive me, let me move on with my 17-year-old delusional way.

Do you need an ending after that?

You can visit her Instagram here.

Photo Source: Priyanka Paul

This article was first published in July 2016.