Author: Grace Li
In this interview, we are joined by Arya Meshram, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Kairos Review, to discuss motivations, whimsy, creativity, and unconventionality, when leading a magazine for young creatives.
Q1: Please introduce yourself and the mission of The Kairos Review!
Hello, this is Arya Meshram, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Kairos Review. I am currently a rising senior in high school, studying STEM. Even though I spend a good chunk of my time trying to figure out whatever is going on in organic chemistry, I like to dedicate a portion of it to the arts as well. Whether it be music, art, writing or anything else of similar manner.
The Kairos Review is a teen-led creative magazine dedicated to publishing poetry, prose, art, and photography from emerging creators worldwide. Our team strives to make this a place where inspiration comes easily for the young creatives all around the world, an outlet where trivial restrictions such as submission fees and past experiences don’t matter.
In a world where people are instructed to colour inside the lines. We hope to encourage fellow creatives to forget predefined norms and let their vision guide them, be it unconventional or not.
Q2: Is there a specific experience that inspired you to start The Kairos Review? How does that shape how you lead this magazine?
The inspiration for the beginning of The Kairos Review was not anything extremely noteworthy. I remember watching ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ during my summer vacations and going online to find fan-made content. I came across various posters and poetry. I thought it would be an incredible idea if someone were to create a compilation of similar creative works. Later, the same summer, I happened to come across various other zines that were already doing their part for the literature community. So I, too, happened to get pulled in the wave. The thing about exposure was that it was mainly given to written works. Therefore, I paid significant attention to directing a good portion of it towards artists.
Q3: How does the word “Kairos” shape your vision for your magazine?
The word “Kairos” is derived from ancient Greek; according to the Webster dictionary, it means “right or proper time.” I used it in the context of a call to action; there is no better time than now. Which probably is not what the direct literal translation means, but it is definitely not a bad philosophy to follow for the sake of art.
Q4: What inspires the themes behind each issue? In specific, for your newest issue, what is the significance of spirals and how do you envision the prompt shaping submissions?
These themes reflect my personal vision for the art world, but they also leave plenty of room for nuance and creative interpretation. The process can be thought of as a Venn diagram of my taste and an appropriate amount of creative freedom, which can produce meaningful work.
Issue 03 – Spirals was inspired by shells that follow a Fibonacci sequence. Spirals give rise to countless metaphors that can be unravelled by artists and writers who could bring the conceptual idea to life. Spirals trace the descent into madness and obsession, the pull of passion and temptation, and the cyclical nature of time, memory, and becoming. I would really like to see creatives use spirals in different contexts and to bring forth a meaning that is unique to the piece they produce.
Q5: If you could capture The Kairos Review in one object, one living thing, and one phenomenon, what would you choose, and why?
Animal- Of course, a frog. It is our mascot after all. No reason other than whimsy.
For the phenomenon, I wanted to say something really cool, like rainbow eucalyptus or bismuth crystals. But definitely goats on trees. Not only for the whimsical aspect, but for how unconventional it looks. We often encourage creatives to try out unconventional ideas.
Q6: What are opportunities that youth can get involved in with The Kairos Review?
The Kairos Review provides a lot of publication opportunities as well as some for the team. We open submissions for a new issue every 3-4 months and hold cover art contests for the said issues. Since I am a student, I need all the help I can with various processes throughout the issue production (and upcoming projects), so volunteer opportunities are going to be open most of the time. Keep an eye out on the Kairos Instagram and website for open or upcoming opportunities.
The Megaphone 