Noopur Choksi has been one of the most badass women I've had the pleasure to meet this year. A visual designer and illustrator who lives down the road, Noopur has the most stunning and well-defined aesthetic that sets her apart. Experimenting with type design, illustration and graphic design, her strokes and colours make her bold, vibrant artworks come to life the more you look at it.
It's been inspiring seeing all the commissioned and personal work she's done in 2019. Delighted to interview her for Goodbye, 2019:
The nicest thing you did for someone in 2019?
These things are so personal and close to my heart, I feel like it defeats the purpose if I talk about it.
The book that helped you the most in 2019?
I think writing and drawing helped me way more than reading in getting through this year. So I’m gonna say my sketchbook/journal! :P But I wanna give a special shout-out to the book - F*cked by my two favourite ladies Corrine Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson for tackling raw, real and uncomfortable subjects in the most authentic relevant way.
Personal works
The song you heard on loop this year?
I don’t have a song as such. But these albums - The Return by Sampa the Great, Auma by Odd Okoddo and This is how you Smile by Helado Negro gave me so much life.
Commissioned artist portraits for Bandcamp Weekly
The film/TV show you fell head over heels in love with?
Derry Girls!! Ugh so good!
Your biggest accomplishment this year?
Being okay with abrupt uncomfortable changes, and the impermanence of things. Being okay with not being okay and not letting that get in the way of doing things that make me happy.
In terms of tangible things, the year started with the release of the very first Vinyl that I designed in its entirety for a beautiful album by Ivan Conti Mamao, and ended with the release of my very first typeface- Sapien, and my first solo music performance, all of which was very exciting, nerve wracking and fulfilling :)
Noopur's first typeface - Sapiens
Your big 2019 lesson/takeaway?
-You don’t need people to understand you. You can be your own support system.
- Love is also about accepting situations, people and circumstances for what they are.
-Control is an illusion.
-Don’t succumb to your thoughts, not everything that you think is real.
Who are you creative crushin’ on lately?
Oh man, I have such major phases with these things but of late I am back to crushin’ on SZA. I am in awe of her writing is and I am seeing her work in a whole different light from when I had discovered her three years ago. Also Hasan Minhaj! But that might be a little more than just a creative crush :D
Album art for Black Letters' new album, Still As You
A recent epiphany you've had?
I’m doing alright.
What’s your number one bucket list item for 2020?
Been meaning to create some form of music+art hybrid baby for a while now, so I’m going to get to working on that. I also want to work on projects that aim to create more awareness towards mental health issues. Other than that, I just want to swim more, take life less seriously, and be out in the sun way more than I did this year.
Rate 2019 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being Totally Sucked.
I would give 2019 a solid 5.44 which translates to Thank you but I am over it.
Follow this incredible lady's work on Instagram. Thanks for the interview, Noopur :) Happy 2020!