Creative minds need to find their grounding in the spaces that they ideate in.
Almost every artist has a certain setting that make them comfortable and unlock their creative flow.
Be it lighting(natural or artificial), sound, decor/aesthetic or others, the senses need the right kind of stimulation for a creative mind to start moving.
We asked some of our past longlisters to show us their workspaces and tell us a little about them.
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1. ” This photo of my writing desk is an anomaly – one clicked in the throes of exciting creative work. Ordinarily, my desk is sparser. Something to write in, something to read on, a candle to light, and off we begin.”
Bhavika Govil, twice longlisted for the Toto Awards for Creative Writing. Debut novel ‘Hot Water’ out now. (HarperCollins India, 2025)
2. ” Everything is within reach. Not just the tools but your goals as well. It might look messy but its a fair reflection of what goes on in my head. Im just happy that I get to make what I do from here. “
Dhruv Visvanath, twice shortlisted for the Toto Awards for Music. Acoustic Guitar Magazine 30 under 30. New single ‘Hold’ coming November 13.
3. This is my space. Its where I spend most of my time. From anxiety to the little eureka moments – it all happens here. “
Nisha Tanwar, Toto Award for Digital Art (Winner 2024)
4. ” I stole this desk from my cousin. It gets cluttered from time to time but is overall very convenient. Plus it has a great view! “
Aravind Jayan, Toto Awards for Creative Writing (Winner 2017). Debut novel “Teen Couple Have Fun Outdoors” shortlisted for The Bollinger Prize for Comic Fiction in 2023.
5. ” Everywhere I go, my workspace finds a window. Plants, cats, breeze and the wild monsters of my mind spill onto it. Messy, alive and exactly how my process works. “
Megha J Shetty, Toto Awards for Short Film (Winner 2022). Independent filmmaker working in Kannada and Tulu languages. Latest short film “Things I didnt tell Amma” selected for Nizhaldal Underground Film Festival.
6. ” यह सिर्फ एक जगह नहीं… यह मेरी सबसे करीबी दोस्त है। एक ऐसी दोस्त, जिसके साथ मैं अपने विचार, अपने सुख-दुःख, बदलते मौसम और अनगिनत लम्हे बाँटती हूँ। यह मेरे लिए वो सेफ स्पेस है, जो शायद इस पूरी दुनिया में कहीं और नहीं मिलेगा। यहाँ मुझे किसी मुखौटे की ज़रूरत नहीं होती—यह मुझे वैसे ही अपनाती है जैसी मैं हूँ।
कभी-कभी लगता है, यह सिर्फ यह जगह ही नहीं, बल्कि वो सारी चीज़ें जो मेरे साथ समय बिताती हैं—मेरी डायरी, मेरी चाय—सब मेरी दोस्त हैं। हर एक चीज़ मुझे एक नई ऊर्जा देती है, जैसे चुपचाप मेरा साथ निभाती हो, मेरी कहानियों की गवाह बनती हो।”
Khushi Bano, Toto Awards for Short Film (Winner 2024). Contributed to the anthology documentary “Raat : Night Time in Small Town India” which was selected for several international film festivals including NYIFF, DIFF and is currently playing on MUBI.
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