While caffeine and addiction have become synonymous for a generation that lives out their days huddled in brightly-lit coffee shops, it’s a sip of the milky Indian chai that keeps our big, fat country going. Pavitra Mohan had her finger on the nerve of the country’s culturescape, right from the time she named her site ‘masala chai’. So, it’s not surprising that the 25-year-old arts management graduate’s endeavour – a site that explores the huge cache of artistic talent that is South Asia – is a colourful representation of the various forms of visual arts spawned by South Asian artists. “I wanted my portal to feature idea was to feature South Asian talent from the visual arts and design field but with an aesthetic that hadn’t been explored before. I was not interested in mainstream art that was already getting enough attention. There is a lot of talent bubbling under and that’s what I was interested in exploring and showcasing,” says Mohan.

The tags on Mohan’s site are an indicator of the expanse of her interests. From accessories, garments, jewellery and interior design to animation, street art, graphic design, photography, print, journal etc. Masala Chai features works by a cross section of artists on a mindboggling range of media.

The site, which started in the form of a blog in November 2007 and has featured over 100 artists, is on its way of becoming a full-fledged portal. “It’s a process involving hours of research. There isn’t anybody who assists me in compiling material for the site. So, at times I approach an artist if somebody recommends, or else there’s a provision where people can submit their work. I screen the entries and then feature them with a footnote,” says Mohan.

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