Today we’d like to introduce you to Mira Gupta.
Hi Mira, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I used to believe that being an artist or a creative was only something for dreamers. Like most kids growing up in an Asian American household, music, art, creativity was just a hobby. I was told that it could only be a reality for a few, if you were a prodigy or some kind of savant. The real focus in life was to get as much education as possible, finish all my degrees, excel academically so that I can land a high-paying job and reach “success”.
It took time for me to unpack the harm that this did to my inner child. The myth of a meritocracy and the myth of being a ‘model minority’ has my community in a chokehold. It limits our mentality and the ways in which we view success: as something that comes from a professional degree, or strictly through education and not something that one can shape in their lifetime through creativity, community, and courage.
Since high school, I made a promise to myself to not follow the grain of what I was told and actually pursue a life worth living. To me, that means honoring my intuition, my ideas and not dimming my light or playing small because it’s what will allow me to adhere to social norms that won’t hold the fullness of my being. I’m currently 24 and living a life I truly love. I got my degrees, I have a job, I’m a community organizer, and most importantly, I’m an artist. To be able to confidently say that is the biggest blessing in my life. It wouldn’t be possible without the strong community that I have behind me and beside me as I continue to embark on pursuing all of my goals and fulfill my life’s purpose: to spread love through my self-expression and intellect.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It took me 7 years of therapy, constant self-reflection, entire seasons of learning about healing, mental health, and ultimately about mindset to get me to this point in my life’s journey. I’ve begun to understand how powerful mindset is not just in creativity but in our entire existence and developing and embodying one’s life purpose.
In no way am I an expert or totally “healed”. That is impossible. Healing is a lifelong journey and no one knows everything there is to know about everything. To be a lifelong student is the mindset that I carry with me. It invites humility, it arms me with curiosity, and allows me to move through life’s most difficult challenges, such as grief, loss, rejection, and self-abandonment with grace and kindness.
Grounding myself in my integrity as an artist means aligning myself morally, socially, culturally, and politically. It means doing my best to uphold the standards and principles I believe to be true for the world I am working to radically reimagine and create to be done with integrity. I practice follow through, I practice discernment, and I practice accountability. None of us are perfect, but as an artist and in any field, it is imperative to have a backbone to be able to accurately reflect the current times and express ourselves in a meaningful, and honest way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a queer, Pan-Asian American writer, poet, vocalista, DJ, dancer, and multidisciplinary artist from New York City. Born in Queens, and raised in Harlem, to a Japanese American mother and Filipino and Indian American father, my mixed and intersectional identity has always been at the forefront of my creative expression. My artistic practice is rooted in my charge for collective liberation from racial capitalism and heteropatriarchy. My multidisciplinary approach to creativity is a reflection of the layered ‘mixedness’ that is necessary for me to adapt and develop avenues to articulate authentic self-expression of my spiritual evolution.
I like to show people that I am a reflection of how they see themselves. Whether it be through my being or through my art. I am not just a conduit of my own self-expression, but a reminder of remembrance for other people to see the love that is within them: whether it beams brightly, whether it has wilted with grief, or whether it is buried beneath the surface.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to continue creating in any way that feels good to me. I am currently working to build out my portfolio to have a range of written work, photography, short film, as well as publish my own poetry book, and a collection of essays on the intersections of science, spirituality, and social justice. All of my work, except my writing and poetry is collaborative, so I’m also working on an album featuring my spoken word poetry, musical production and vocal arrangement alongside fellow poets, musicians, and producers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/miraaaposaaa?igsh=OWdsODc0enQycGx4&utm_source=qr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirathephilosopher?igsh=NGY5N3I2ZzhrcmVl&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirahgupta?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=r1tbg5AXmYw
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/obrbVbX3Y12aONF4yu
