Today we’d like to introduce you to Elika Dizechi.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Growing up I was always, and I mean always, surrounded by art. I love imagination and the unlimited capacity to pull inspiration from anything. I guess you could say at heart I am an artist and in mind a chaser. I crave and chase versatility, and I love to dip my toes in as many things as I can. That’s why I grew up choreographing my life through art, dance, music, and modeling. The latter, which cultivated a community and granted me the opportunity to enhance it.
A little over a year ago, me and a couple of my good friends created The Portrait Culture, a community organization that has prided itself in hosting collaborative networking events, workshops, and a space to spotlight talent. This year we launched our Movement segment, traveling across the nation to give other photographers, models, and bloggers the chance to expand their portfolios and improve their connections. We live by our mantra “Connect By Culture”, which stems from our mission to unify the creative pool that we are so lucky to have here in San Diego. It’s been really gratifying to find such a zealous community that revels in the same passion for art.
Please tell us about your art.
To me, art is a very subjective term and has a lot of breadths. There are so many avenues of art, but growing up my primary creative outlet was really drawing. When I wasn’t sketching, I found peace in music, piano specifically, or song. I’m not super vocal about singing (ha puns), but it’s something I do every day. When I was younger, I remember my piano teacher describing my voice as having so much “color”. Color, I thought, what an interesting way to describe something. I went on to learn the musical meaning of color is to have a distinctive character. Now, I’m always seeking out color in my life. Modeling is something that has given me the chance to paint a colorful story using movement and style. Through modeling, I have found an amazing community of like-minded people who love and appreciate imagination as much as I do. No matter the style of photography, I try to create images that provoke something. Call it mood or emotion, but I think the best way to relate to people is through mutual understanding. And a picture that can do that says more than a thousand words…
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I think having a strong creative community has made it a lot easier for talented artists to generate new content. At the same time, I think originality has suffered a bit in the process. In an industry where competition is so high, and talent is so plentiful, it’s becoming more and more difficult to stand out. Artists who have worked hard to find their niche are falling victim to others replicating their work (more often than not without credit). I think it’s important to note, no matter how hard it is to believe, there’s enough room for everyone. Share your inspirations, help your friends with their concepts, lend an ear for brainstorming. We raise ourselves quickest when we are building up those around us.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m trying to get a blog running for my own personal work (currently in the works), but until that’s live most of my work lives on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elika_dizechi/
You can find The Portrait Culture’s work on a variety of platforms. If you’re interested in attending one of our meetups, all our events are listed on our website as well as our Instagram. We would love to see you at one!
We also have a community group on Facebook for anyone looking for a place to share work, ask questions, get constructive feedback, and network!
Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1916668041923832/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theportraitculture.com/
- Email: elika@theportraitculture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theportraitculture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theportraitculture/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/elika_dizechi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PortraitCulture
Image Credit:
Arman Raga, Stephen Robert, Ian Temple, Donald Wang, Miles McCormack, Ram Lamela, Hannah Bernabe, Drenick Quiogue
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
