Moakumla Jamir is well-known for her Instagram page @kumti_art, where she posts her creations of trays, candles, key chains, and other craft.
The 22-year-old self-taught artist from Longsa Village in Mokokchung District was inspired to pursue art and crafting by her early love of painting and desire for financial independence.
Despite having no prior experience, Kumti began her painting career in February 2020 when her uncle indicated interest in buying the first item of her work, which she had assembled in the form of a wooden bar. She felt secure enough in his confidence in her to begin her mission.
Kumti, a recent Jubilee Memorial College graduate, started working on commissions centered mostly on Naga tradition after understanding the need of sharing the beautiful culture outside of the state.
Kumti, who comes from a middle-class household, is still discovering new sources of inspiration every day.
The following is a brief interview she gave to Mokokchung Times.
MTimes: You make a variety of crafts, such as trays, candles, and keychains. Which one do you love making the most?
Kumti: Personally, I enjoy making keychains the most, particularly the traditional design as it represents my identity and where I come from.
MTimes: Could you kindly tell us how you develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects?
Kumti: I would say it comes with a lot of practice, hard work and dedication. Whenever I get an idea, I put it in work. I truly trust the intuitive process. The more we work on something, the more circle of ideas we get. Whatever it is, just create and let it all come out just the way it is.
MTimes: How often do you research craft trends, and customer buying patterns to inspire designs and marketing strategies?
Kumti: I often do research on what people would prefer and be interested on. And try to create more based on their likings, & I’m open to provide customization according to my customer’s preference.
MTimes: What was your first creation that was sold, except the one your uncle purchased, and how did it make you feel?
Kumti: Other than the one my uncle bought, it was a key chain I made with female traditional attire design, almost the same as the previous one. I felt so delighted and absolutely happy as I was selling an art piece which I’ve created with naught experience.
MTimes: Are you confident with your craft so far?
Kumti: I wouldn’t say I’m 100% confident about my crafts. As I believe there’s room for improvement.
MTimes: In your perspective, what can our society do more to help small business owners like you grow?
Kumti: In my opinion, buying a local handmade product from a small entrepreneur is more valuable than buying from a readymade seller, because it takes so much effort and dedication to create a unique piece. It took a lot of trial and error to get where they are today. So by supporting a small business, you’re also supporting the local community. It helps to stimulate the local economy and keeps business booming.
MTimes: What do you dream of achieving with kumti_art?
Kumti: My goal is to expand the page, by adding more personalized items and improve its quality. I also would love to showcase our Naga art, culture and tradition to other parts of the world through my work.
MTimes: Kindly leave a message for our readers and also let them know how they can purchase your products.
Kumti: If you have passion, just get on with it. Great ventures start from small beginnings. Even if you don’t have the formal training, you can make up for it with passion and hard work. Have faith and be patient. Never give up on what you’ve started. And don’t quit.
If you are interested to check out some of my work, you can find me on my Instagram handle @kumti_art