The Block

Art & Culture — 9 months ago

Creative Living: Lhaga Koondhor

Interdisciplinary curator and artist Lhaga Koondhor shares their creative life. 

 

Lhaga Koondhor’s design for the PARA/SITE T-shirt makes a neat encapsulation of the Zurich-based artist’s practice, both in terms of final output and the process she likes to follow. PARA/SITE was born out of a long friendship and collaboration with Maximage Societe Suisse, a design studio based in Switzerland. This collaborative approach runs through Koondhor’s work, which as she puts it, is, “mostly articulated by an inclusion of others that is marked by communal understanding”.

 

Then there’s the aesthetic of the T-shirt and the themes that it explores. Instantly recognisable as a Koondhor design, PARA/SITE explores “the dichotomy of change while maintaining the self”. This makes sense, given Koondhor is chiefly concerned with exploring dialectics, and that she seeks change to stimulate her as an artist: “I feel most creative when things are changing unexpectedly.”

 

Here Koondhor discusses creative freedom, embracing chaos, and her new routine. 

 

Shop the PARA/SITE T-shirt here.

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Everpress Team
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Courtesy of Lhaga Koondhor

When do you feel most creative?

I feel most creative when things are changing unexpectedly. Going through transitions gives me a sense of relief. Instead of reaching a final destination, which feels like an end, I find comfort in staying in a constant state of change and new experiences. This lets me hold onto a continuous feeling of freedom.

Courtesy of Lhaga Koondhor

Tell me a little about your relationship to deadlines? Do you meet them easily? And do you need them to motivate you?

I find that I sometimes struggle to adhere to deadlines, but I appreciate having them in place to help me structure my tasks. While I might need to reschedule occasionally, I recognise that deadlines serve as valuable markers for progress. However, I also believe in maintaining a balanced perspective on deadlines. It’s important to acknowledge that while meeting deadlines is important, the significance of the work itself should not be diminished by a strict timeline. Quality and thoughtful output hold their own weight, and there are instances when it’s acceptable to prioritise delivering impactful results over rushing to meet a specific deadline.

I believe in a balanced perspective

Do you need routine?

For a while, I embraced chaos and found beauty and brilliance in it without overthinking. But recently, I’ve started to explore balance and trying to break patterns, like working at night. I discovered a new routine through fitness that connects my body and mind, making me clearer in my thoughts and more in touch with myself. For the past year and a half, I’ve been consistently doing morning fitness with my partner, which has brought positive changes and a new outlook on routines for me.

Courtesy of Lhaga Koondhor

How much do you adhere to a ‘conventional’ 9-5 working week?

I don’t follow a ‘conventional’ 9-5 working week at all. I’ve put in significant effort to the point where I’m no longer dependent on a predefined system.

Do you work better in the morning or the evening? 

I’m most productive in the morning, especially after my gym routine and a well-deserved cappuccino.

Courtesy of Lhaga Koondhor

Do you work on the weekends?

Yes, I do.

Do you try to draw a clear line between ‘life’ and ‘work’ or does it all blend into one?

I don’t really draw a clear line between ‘life’ and ‘work’; they tend to blend together for me. I operate by envisioning possibilities, understanding my environment, and embracing challenges. Collaboration is a key aspect of my approach, and I find joy in working alongside friends to create and innovate.

Courtesy of Lhaga Koondhor

On days when you hit a creative block, what do you do to get past it?

When creativity is stuck, I change course and reset.

How has your relationship with your practice evolved over the years?

Over the years, my connection with my practice has transformed, to emphasise sustainable growth and a collaborative spirit. An example of this evolution is the ongoing collaboration with Maximage Societe Suisse design team, which spans various stages of my life. The PARA/SITE T-shirt collaboration becomes a celebration of our enduring creative partnership.

Read More: Creative Living: Carlos Arrojo