With great drama comes the even more overdramatic urge to jot it all down in ink and paper. Precisely what city-based Mounica Tata has been doing in order to cope with the issues and riddles that revolve around what being a woman in today’s world is like. To reach out and start the dialogue at least somewhere, her current series called ‘Shame’ illustrates all the aspects women are shamed for.
As Mounica reminisces, “It all started with strict college classes and me coping and killing time via my little illustrations. I started a page on Facebook in 2013 and never really put much thought into it initially. It was only after my stints in editorial and client executive roles that I realised how the art has always stayed with me.” Born and brought up in Hyderabad, the Christ University alumnus moved to Bengaluru for her education. She adds how the evolution from caricatures to feminist statements had a lot to do with her upbringing. Yet, there were doubts and speculations about taking up comics illustrations and doodling as a full-time profession, most of which stemmed from her father. However, the steady rise of fan following and a unanimous appreciation for her wit and humour is what spurred her on. From calling out all the current issues faced by a young adult, to breaking the silence on patriarchal bias, Tata’s art hints at body image issues too. “I always loved drawing and telling stories but it took me a while to realise that I could actually do this full-time for a living,” says the who has hopped quite a few career paths before settling for the art she believes to have been born with. “I was one of those creative kids who would keep drawing cards and shove it in people’s faces,” she laughs.
What was just a page to document her daily doodling eventually turned into a website that creates illustrations for anything and everything, including wedding invites! Somehow in the process of putting out her whimsical illustrations, the artist has succeeded in infusing comics with feminism. “I don’t wake up in the morning and decide that today I’ll draw something feministic. It has to do a lot with the personal experiences I’ve had over time. I grew up at a time and place where patriarchy didn’t hit me in the face, but we have arrived at a time where we really need to take up issues people aren’t talking about. It’s almost like Feminism is the new F-bomb,” she quips.
As a cartoonist and doodler, she captures the most real and humorous aspects of our Indian lives and scenarios, with her feminist touch to it. Trying to relay the importance of treating everything with good humour, Mounica says how she isn’t fond of labelling herself when it comes to her art, “I’m not a cartoonist or an illustrator. I’m more of a storyteller and somehow my comics just happen to find me in all the sticky situations I keep landing myself in.” Deriving daily motivation from her dog, Sir Leo, regarding being hopeful about each day, Mounica signs off saying had she not been an illustrator, she would still like to try being a radio jockey!
