Multimedia science artist Pooja Gupta combines over five years of video, illustration, graphics, animation, and storytelling experience to translate oft-complex concepts in ecology and wildlife conservation into new visual identities. Her design thinking approach in developing multimedia content for science education can be found across a wide range of platforms, both at her home in Hyderabad, India, and most recently in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, USA, as part of the 2021 Jackson Wild Summit. I sat down to chat with Pooja about finding her creative direction, bridging the science-art divide, and her vision for the future of the wildlife and science art industry.

Good morning – or should I say afternoon in India – Pooja! You once said that your curiosity of the natural world was sparked later in life relative to some of your peers. What was that moment of discovery like?

I don’t know if I can pick on any one moment – the journey has been full of twists and turns and, in essence, has been constantly evolving. In some ways I didn’t know where I was going to be when I started – and I still don’t – and that’s the most unexpectedly exciting as well as sometimes challenging aspect of this journey. By this I mean, I hadn’t walked into this field thinking I’ll be a natural history filmmaker or an educator. I entered it with a curiosity for nature and wildlife, and everything that followed was more or less defined by my experiences within these natural spaces. This is also the reason why I dabble with so many mediums. I’ve always been driven by purpose and meaning and exploration rather than a specific aim. Having said that, the goal has been constant, which is to create impactful pieces that can contribute towards protecting the natural world.

Impactful is right – you have been involved in a number of artistic collaborations with conservation and research stakeholders. What goes through your mind when choosing to work on certain projects?

Personally, I like it when work, clients and the nature of projects are all diverse. Plus, I enjoy each project in its own unique form. I enjoy creative collaborations the most, in the sense that two or more people are able to complement each other’s skills and ideas and are able to work from the same creative space. 

What would you tell up-and-comers that are interested in working across such broad disciplines?

There is really no one way to plug into communication work and I’d urge anybody upcoming to find their own ways of engagement. In fact, that could lead to new pathways in an already growing industry in a very healthy manner. Find projects where your skills might fit, find ways to contribute whether it’s locally or otherwise, and offer your skills in a manner that you see fit. Sometimes a client may not be able to see how you might be able to contribute in the way that you do and it’s worth every second to approach such instances on your own!

I imagine jumping between the disciplines can also get quite exhausting. What do you do on days you’re not feeling especially creatively inspired?

I find myself so enmeshed in my work that every new hobby I take up inevitably finds its way back into the work ecosystem in some manner or nature. Nature is truly and intrinsically linked to all aspects of my life. That said, I like having creative brainstorming sessions with no pressure or deadlines, speaking to friends, and watching shows to unwind at the end of a long day.

Every few years I find myself in a phase where I need to engage in purely skill-based reflective exercises. It’s really strange to say this, but creativity in one space leads and motivates me to be creative and productive with my work. It’s a way of life and I don’t think you can ever fully have these aspects of work fun un-entangled in some ways. For example, a few months ago I took on needle felting as a process to help meditate, find focus, and find my way back into the workspace. I think I’m constantly trying to find new hobbies and crafts to explore and find my ‘mojo,’ so-to-speak. 

I hear you – meditating, finding focus, and taking time to unwind seems to be a common thread over this past year. What was it like being a wildlife artist in India during the pandemic?

For me, the real obstacle was the inability to travel which meant resorting to a whole lot of desk work. While this meant a whole lot more artwork than film work overall, it also gave me the time to contribute towards several environmental campaigns that were being led in the country over these two years and dabble into a bit of animation as well!

Lately, I’ve been creating a lot of personal art and have now been finding different uses and purposes for it. For instance, the art I recently created has found purpose in two ways: First I was able to help raise funds for COVID19 relief through print sales. Second, I recently tied up with a wildlife merchandising company in India to sell prints with the hope of increasing appreciation, awareness, and curiosity for the natural world. Other than this, I’ve worked on a couple of logos and also conducted a workshop called ‘Science in a Visual Short’ as part of ALTEFF, a film festival in India. The participants will be presenting their visual representation of scientific information at an event as part of the festival next month. With this workshop, my aim was and is to bridge the art-science gap, empower scientists with an understanding of the artistic process, and enable easier future collaborations between the two fields of work to create positive impact.

It’s so awesome hearing about the initiatives taking place around the world to bridge the art-science divide. What excites you about the future of the wildlife and science art industry?

The fact that it is growing and, in essence, we can choose what we want to make of it. This is a challenge that opens up new channels of exploration, creation, and meaning. From what I know and can observe as an individual with limits, I think now more than ever before we are all looking to create works of impact. As communicators, we want our work to enable some sort of positive action or change, and ensure absorption of meaningful content, all with the hope of inspiring the action needed to conserve wild spaces. 

That’s certainly all any of us can aspire toward! So what’s next for you?

It’s hard to describe ‘what’s next’ on a general scale as I do rely on client-based works, but I’d say it is anything that aligns with common communication goals in terms of creating positive change and aims at protecting our natural spaces. 

As for projects in the pipeline – I’m in the process of prototyping digital textbooks with GreenHub India and have been selected as an artist for a residency program that is a part of Coral Woman’s film impact campaign.

‘Too much to do and too little time’ is a motto a few friends and I share and it seems to be the case no matter what else transpires in the world.

You can follow Pooja’s science x artwork on her website, Pooja’s Laboratory, as well as on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.