By Aparmita Das
Clyde’s art is a reflection of his experiences, struggles, and triumphs. It is a window into his soul, where every stroke of the brush, every click of the camera, and every note played, is a manifestation of his true self. His work is a reflection of the beauty and complexities of the human experience, and it is this raw emotion that draws people to his art.
A force to be reckoned within the world of experimental art, he continues to push the boundaries of conventional art forms.
“I’m actually an independent artist who enjoys dabbling in all types of art and media forms but if I had to boil it down specifically, I am an avant garde artist based in Shillong,” Clyde Thangkhiew said, speaking to the Slate.
He has made music videos and short films, and has immersed himself in photography, theatre, painting, writing and illustrating comics. “My passion lies in trying out new things and concepts that’s not very popular or in trend, and learning from those trials. I’m passionate about music, art and comics, and consider myself a very instinctive person when it comes to self-expression.”
The solitude and the quiet of cafes provide an ideal environment for the artist’s creative process. According to him, the ambiance helps him tap into his inner voice and start working on his projects. “Being surrounded by different people at a cafe, although not my natural inclination, does not hinder my creativity. I put on my EarPods, drown the noise with music or an audiobook, and continue working. Balancing my need for solitude with my desire to share my creative side is still a work in progress. I am more comfortable sharing my work in a digital space, like Instagram, rather than face-to-face interactions.”
Being a multi-faceted artist means laying down extra time and effort into mastering the technical aspects. Whether studying and practicing beforehand or learning on set, his goal is to achieve the desired effect in his artwork, be it in shooting videos, taking photographs, or creating comics.
Clyde’s interest in visual art and theatre began in college, where he studied media and got the opportunity to experiment with it.
He was introduced to theatre in his first semester, performing street theatre in different spaces. “But it was only after graduation that I was exposed to the deeper aspects of the art form, through Lapdiang Syiem, a professional theatre artist in Shillong. I became hooked on using my body as a form of expression to tell stories. Since then, I have incorporated what I have learned into my later projects.”
Citing a specific experimental comic project as an example of his ability to think “out of the box”, he explained, “The project was a digital piece of work accompanied by a visual album, where the reader could read and listen simultaneously. The theme of the comic was heavily influenced by Catholicism and the fear of the unknown, featuring a non-binary representation of God. It was interactive, with an audio narrative, sound ambience and visualisers, which kept the reader engaged through each chapter, making for a multidimensional experience.”
“In conceptualising my work, I’ve had different crazy journeys. This one time, I locked myself inside my room for over a month. There was no sunlight or human interaction at all, with my windows blocked by thick black cloth. This felt like I was living a nightlife for the longest time. My helper would place the food outside the door and coffee was the only beverage. The experience was unforgettable,” he added.
Clyde grew up in a conservative environment in Shillong and always felt like he could not fit in. As a young kid, he was often quieted down or punished for questioning things and expressing his beliefs. To cope, he would build a world inside his head and extract themes and ideas to put on paper.
It started as casual doodling but eventually evolved into visual thinking for his creative endeavours.
Once in his teens, he began to understand the discourse on sexuality, and with the help of the internet and his personal journey, he discovered pansexuality.
Despite knowing he was different from a young age he felt the need to mask himself for the sake of his own mental and physical security. This affected his mental health greatly until he finally decided to come out to his friends.
“I believe I’m more confident and secure in myself now that my loved ones are fully supportive and I’m also slowly learning to love myself again. It has been a long self-destructive journey and I’m glad the route is changing for the better and there is no turning back now,” Clyde said.
Their support gave him the confidence to gradually educate his mother’s homophobia and the anxieties of the closeted queer experience. It took a few years, but she eventually accepted the broad spectrum of sexuality. He recently came out to her because he knew she had enough knowledge about the LGBTQIA community. In the course of this journey, he understood the meaning of patience, even if it took him 25 years.
He added, “I felt the shame and internalised homophobia while talking about my journey to my mother but fortunately she was able to empathise and understand the truth revolving around a much needed, sensitive conversation, including where I was coming from. I just wanted to live honestly and be happy. Thankfully, she was fully supportive of it. That I no longer have to hide, lie and care about the opinion of people for the rest of my life brought with it, a sense of relief.”
As a queer person living in the city, he hopes to see a change in the experience of being a member of the community in the future. By using his own experiences to support and advocate for other individuals in the community, he believes he can help bring about this transformation.
To achieve this, Clyde has started an Instagram comic that relates to the queer experience. “I want to be the first artist to create this type of content openly, and to use it as a tool for advocacy.”
He acknowledges that there have been others before him who have faced challenges such as death threats and bullying, but he believes that it is important to continue pushing for change.
He sees himself and others as pioneers, willing to take on the challenges that come with being open about their identities, in order to create a more progressive and inclusive Shillong for the next generation. “The ultimate goal is to create a society where the queer youth of the future can be themselves without fear, and where difference is celebrated rather than stigmatised.”
His journey as an independent artist, and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, has been one of self-discovery and authenticity, which sets his art apart and makes it truly one of a kind.
With each passing day, Clyde’s art continues to evolve and grow, and the world eagerly awaits to see what he will create next.