Meet contemporary artist from Tashkent, Dariya Kanti

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Dariya Kanti I’m a contemporary artist from Uzbekistan, Center Asia. I was born in a multicultural family in Tashkent. And I think all these components left a kind of mark on my worldview and in particular on my art. For as long as I remember, my favorite thing to do was drawing and it still is. In 2016, I received a bachelor’s degree from the National Institute of Arts and Design named K. Behzoda in Tashkent, at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the department of easel and book graphics. This is the institute I graduated from with a red diploma.

In 2018, I received a master’s degree from the St. Petersburg Art and Industrial Academy named A. L. Stieglitz at the Faculty of Monumental – Decorative Art, Department of Art Textiles.

Also last year I launched G.O.A.T1991 which is my very first Art Magazine.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I’m traveling a lot, but always coming back to my hometown which is Tashkent. This is a truly unique city. A city that connects and mixes East with West, ancestral traditions with modernity. Where you will try the most delicious food you have ever eaten and meet the kindest people.

I’m traveling a lot, but always coming back to my hometown which is Tashkent. This is a truly unique city. A city that connects and mixes East with West, ancestral traditions with modernity. Where you will try the most delicious food you have ever eaten and meet the kindest people.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best thing is definitely nature and food which always makes a great impression even if you live there or have been there 100 times already.

The worst thing for me as an artist is that we don’t really have art life here and in this regard, sometimes I get stuck feelings.

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

To be creative in my city means to be :

Unique, Fearless and Loving

How did you start your career in art?

I always knew that I want to be an artist. As the first member of my family who decided to choose art as a profession, I entered the life of art without having any acquaintances in this area. But I can say that I’m lucky and the right people always come around. So to answer the question, I can say my career in art has just begun.

I always knew that I want to be an artist. As the first member of my family who decided to choose art as a profession, I entered the life of art without having any acquaintances in this area. But I can say that I’m lucky and the right people always come around. So to answer the question, I can say my career in art has just begun.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

Thankfully, I have a great and supportive family. And when it was time to choose my way, my family was patient, gave me the space I needed, and supported my choice. It’s worth noting that I was growing up in complete self-expression freedom, and at some point for me, it seems that deep inside my family always knew that I will choose a creative path.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

For me, it’s very important to create something new. And with each new work, I’m trying to improve the graphic technique that I have invented. Also, I’m very excited about video art and exploring this area now as well.

For me, it’s very important to create something new. And with each new work, I’m trying to improve the graphic technique that I have invented. Also, I’m very excited about video art and exploring this area now as well.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Wow! There are a lot of them, to be honest because there is a huge number of unbelievable talented and interesting people I would LOVE to collaborate with. First who pops-up in my mind is Grimes, Ferdinando Verderi, Lykke Li, AES+F, Es Devlin, Caroline Polachek.

What are the biggest challenges you face in working as a creative?

At the moment, the biggest challenge is to find the right gallery representation for my art.

But there are also daily artsy challenges while I’m working on new pieces. As I never have a physical sketch, just a general idea in my head. Sometimes different parts of the image are fighting with each other and I’m trying to make it work.

Absolutely stunning! I adore women and I can definitely say that women are my biggest inspiration for each piece I made. In my eyes, they are really brave, strong, beautiful, gentle creatures with great power.

How would you describe the women around you?

Absolutely stunning! I adore women and I can definitely say that women are my biggest inspiration for each piece I made. In my eyes, they are really brave, strong, beautiful, gentle creatures with great power.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

There is always only one who is my inspiration from day one and who I looked up to when I was growing and I still look at her and admire her. It is my mother. She taught me everything I know today. She is the artist of her life. She has a great sense of style and I can say that she’s making art with people.

I think the most important thing is to be honest with yourself, your art and with the people around you. Never give up, work hard, but don’t stress. What’s yours will come to you. And last but not least “love”. Love what you do and enjoy every moment of your creative life.

Do you have any advice for other women who are aspiring to work in your field?

I think the most important thing is to be honest with yourself, your art and with the people around you. Never give up, work hard, but don’t stress. What’s yours will come to you. And last but not least “love”. Love what you do and enjoy every moment of your creative life.

What type of music do you like to listen to?

My favorite type of music is alternative. But sometimes I can go with techno or totally different direction like ’90s and ’00s music.

What’s your favorite local food spot?

To be honest it’s really hard to answer this question. There is just a lot of food spots I love, but they all have no names because those places are not in the center of the city and they’re not some fancy places.

Felicia Chen asks: If you could choose a different career path, what would it be?

I have no idea. I feel totally where I have to be.

Junissa Bianda asks: What do you do when you are stuck?

In those moments, I’m starting a new piece. And if this does not help, I would work on my magazine or just chill, read a book, watch some movie, or go for a walk.

What question would you like us to ask the next artist?

Would you call yourself a rebel?

Photos courtesy of Dariya Kanti