Having ambition and dedication can propel you further than you think. It’s uncommon to find someone so ready to take on a challenge and bursting with ideas in all types of forms. Someone who knows that we only get one life to do something great. Someone like our February artist – Shiv Hattangadi.

Nonahood News: What drove you to become an artist and musician? 

Shiv Hattangadi: I had no basic training or inclination toward it at a young age, unlike in music. After graduating from commerce college and [a] culinary and hotel management institute, I worked in my very first job as a trainee chef in an American top-branded, five-star hotel in Bombay, India, with 1,500 rooms and seven restaurants within. We had a total of over 220 chefs and cooks. We had a German and a French chef who used to do large 3-D ice carvings, butter sculptures almost eight feet high sometimes, chocolate carvings, for which they had special studios to do in such a massive kitchen. They also used to do daily amazing fresh fruit and vegetable carvings for plated or buffet garnish and decorations. All of which was not taught to me in the culinary institute. So I fell in love with that art and sculpture making.

As far as music is concerned, my dear dad was a hobby drummer. Probably, I carried it in [my] genes. I would play or bang beats on the dining table whilst eating, listening to music. My parents then sent me to music school to learn drums. I would accompany my mother and grandmother for devotional singing events every week. But the drum was [more] my passion than singing. Now, I am so devoted to music that I have to have my music performance fix, at least once a week.

NHN: When did you realize creating art was your passion?

SH: After I joined the hospitality industry as a trainee chef. It was so amazing for me to know, before even I completed the two years training, I had mastered the art so well that I started training the culinary school teachers how to do this art and sculpting, so they could, in turn, teach it to their students. Little did I know, within four years, I would be so accomplished in this art that I would be appreciated by the then-British prime minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, with an autographed photo and an appreciation letter from 10 Downing Street, London. After that success, I started receiving many opportunities in the media. Having started with a culinary medium, later on at home, I started creating large 3-D wax sculptures, styrofoam sculptures, [then graduating] to making terracotta clay, ceramic sculptures, and wall murals.

NHN: How often do you find yourself creating art and making music?

SH: Sculptures and wall murals take about a couple of days to a couple of months for each, depending on the size and medium. Let us say, it takes me just a few hours to make a clay sculpture of about less than 12 inches in height. Whereas, it takes me about two to four weeks to make a terracotta clay wall mural of 4’ x 8,’ such as the Florida panther, and a wax sculpture about the same time as well. So to answer your question, sculptures are an ongoing passion and depend on the mood and time. Music – every week, for sure; sometimes more than once in a week.

NHN: How long did it take you to discover yourself as an artist?

SH: At the age of 21, I learned how to make 3-D sculptures, never having done it before and was surprised to discover that I had the inbuilt skills to venture out into creating 3-D sculptures without any formal training. Whereas music, I started learning at age nine, and [it has] always been my first passion. “Music makes friends.”

NHN: Which of your projects were the most time-consuming/challenging and why?

SH: The large butter sculpture for the visiting British prime minister. I had to make [it] with just [a] two-day advanced notice. I worked day and night for two days nonstop. I was very happy with the end result and … her hearty appreciation when she touched and looked at the sculpture. That was very challenging at such a young age and timeframe.

NHN: What are some of your dream projects?

SH: 1. Probably make lots of wall murals similar [to] “Save Florida Panther” and “Save Florida Manatee” and have them accepted/purchased by local schools, hospitals, banks, or any larger business to be displayed on their walls. Each of the hand-created wall murals sends a very strong message. Educative slogans, messages are the in-thing and are much needed. Let’s talk about nature, animals, weather, plastic disposable garbage, fire. All these are being [destroyed], due [to] the greed of all mankind. … If possible, let’s change and help [do] what we can. Growing up, I had learnt as a student that “the pen is mightier than the sword.” 

2. I have a master plan to create and build various humongous, themed sculptures from disposable plastic waste. … Working toward it, but need some great sponsors …

3. Finally, [I have written three manuscripts]. One is completed and looking for a traditional publisher, and the other two are halfway. With all my free time spent on music, art, sculpture, and volunteering, all these additional hobbies are on the back bench and very challenging due to time constraints, especially when I am a single parent to my two loving sons. 

NHN: What serves as your inspiration on a day-to-day basis?

SH: If one were to read the above skills and dream projects that I have [done] and [worked] hard to succeed on all of them, one will realize the multiple skills and projects today’s kids have ready, cut out for them to do. My message is to all the younger generation: “This world is yours, make the best of it.” “We have this only one-time human life; there is no rehearsal.”