TINA MALHOTRA
One can only imagine how elated I felt when Tina called me and said she wanted Color Factory to collaborate with Project Color Corps (my non-profit organization using the power of color to empower communities). The collaboration culminated in a room in the Color Factory Houston which includes quotes from the students involved with Project Color Corps (see below!).
Like Project Color Corps, Tina’s work with Color Factory brings delight and joy to the communities it serves. From our initial conversation, we forged a deep and meaningful friendship. Our commitment to color continues to this day. I know you will feel Tina’s passion, she leads with her heart and it is a powerful place to start.
Laura Guido-Clark: WHEN I SAY THE WORD COLOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF?
Tina Malhotra: I think of emotions. The mere presence of color has the ability to affect moods, change vibes, and elicit feelings. The power of color is inexorable.
photo courtesy of COLOR FACTORY HOUSTON, color quotes on the floor from PROJECT COLOR CORPS
LG-C: CAN YOU SHARE A SIGNIFICANT COLOR MEMORY OR YOUR FIRST COLOR MEMORY?
TM: As a South Asian American, I grew up going to Indian functions and cultural events almost on a weekly basis. Indian clothing, decorations, wedding decor, and even desserts are so incredibly colorful. My most significant color memory is taking part in the Festival of Holi which is a celebration of the arrival of spring. Every year we would go to our temple dressed in old white clothes ready to run around and throw colorful powder at our friends and family. By the end of the day, we were completely covered in color and emerged from the crowds looking like we were swallowed by a rainbow. It is pretty much the most fun you could ever have as a kid (or adult).
photo courtesy of Tina Malhotra
LG-C: HOW DO YOU USE COLOR FOR SELF-EXPRESSION?
TM: My personal self-expression has evolved over the years. In college, I wore bright colors, bold patterns and would get purple or red highlights simply because that’s how I felt that week. Maybe it was a reflection of my new found freedom? When I moved to New York City, my style evolved and I found my true love of wearing black. Black is so classic, smart, sexy, and looks good on just about anyone. After 11 years in New York, we moved to Houston and I realized just how black my wardrobe was. I had to make a concerted effort to buy more colorful pieces. I do wear more color now, though black with gold accents will always be my safe space.
LG-C: WHICH ONE OF YOUR SENSES, ASIDE FROM SIGHT, DO YOU MOST ASSOCIATE WITH COLOR?
TM: Definitely smell. There are strong ties between scents, colors, and memories. If you closed your eyes and smelled grass you would see the color green, or if you saw the perfect tone of pink you may think of bubblegum. We created a room at Color Factory to showcase this concept where you smell a familiar scent from a colored pipe and try to guess what it is. Most people are able to guess the majority of the scents with the only hint being the color it embodies.
“Chromaroma” room @ COLOR FACTORY HOUSTON
LG-C: HOW DOES COLOR PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR WORK?
TM: Color plays a significant role in my work at Color Factory. Our goal is to use color to create a beautiful experience that tells a story and elicits an emotional response for our guests. As powerful as color can be, I think that sometimes people can forget its importance or take it for granted. We encourage our guests to put their phones down, to be present, to be curious, to discover, and to have meaningful experiences in our space.
LG-C: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU SAW LATELY THAT WAS COLOR CAPTIVATING OR REVELATORY? IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOU WITH REGARD TO COLOR?
TM: I am endlessly inspired by the work of James Turrell. His work is seemingly simple, but the effect that it has on people is otherworldly. He has the ability to stop people in their tracks and transport them into an ethereal place. I feel really lucky that Houston is home to a few installations by James Turrell, including his brilliant “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace.
James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace , Photo by Tommy LaVergne
LG-C: WHAT COLOR CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE?
MT: Neon colors are so hard to produce on a painted surface! There are a few vendors in the UK that have pigments strong enough to create a neon palette from, but they require SO MANY coats to get it right.
LG-C: DO YOU HAVE A PHILOSOPHY YOU WORK BY?
TM: When creating a new experience I ask myself: what emotion do I want to elicit with this space? That answer becomes the guiding force for the rest of our creative process. Beyond that, the common denominator for almost every experience at Color Factory is joy. Everything we create is meant to embrace the child-like imagination that everyone holds within them.