When he started his career as the host of the show, Art Attack, Gaurav Juyal thought his career was taking a different direction. In a chat with Riya Sharma, the artist cum host opens up about the challenges he faced during the show and how he tries to make it interactive for his young audience

For many of us, art and craft in school was the favourite subject. We often waited for that special class in the midst of the long week for our creative teachers to help evolve our imagination. Many would agree  when we mention the misery of not being able to express and bring the right output even after following the teacher step by step. But, when Art Attack made its maiden entry to the small screen, the artist in all of us was awoken.

Whether it was making a scary hand for Halloween with cardboard or making an alien face using discarded water bottle, the show honed our craft skills. It also encouraged the creative capability that all of had in us. After the success it got in India, the adaptation of the international show was bound to happen.

Gaurav Juyal had just graduated from his college when he was asked to audition as the host for the show. “My batchmate Sarah was working with the channel, I took an extra year to complete college. She told me that they have an opening of a host for the show. I was apprehensive for giving it a shot. I was told that I would have to work in different medium. Also, Hindi was a constraint as the host was expected to be fluent with the language. When I gave the audition, I got through but that was like a different direction to my career altogether. I never thought that I would be able to pull it off because I always had stage fright. I never participated in debates, so I had to undergo training. It was difficult in the first season as I had never faced the camera but eventually I was comfortable,” he shared.

Before Juyal, the Indian audience had already seen Neil Buchanan as the host of the show, so did the comparison bother himIJ “There was a lot of pressure because by the time we started, people has already seen Neil on television. He was pretty comfortable in front of the camera. I had to learn and observe his comfort level that he had on camera,” he replied.

As the show caters to a young audience, the host believes that it is a very important age group who are to be dealt with extra care. He pointed out, “The age group really matters with a potent question— Can (the young ones) they do itIJ Because for us, it is comparatively easier to create things out of scraps and material available but will they be able to do it. That is what we need to ask. We usually avoid the use of scissors but even when we do, we expect any of the family members to help out the child. But, for me, we have to be extra careful on what we are delivering. It may take us ten minutes to craft new things but to a child, it may take an hour or so. We try to make things that can be made easily by a child.”

Though the final product looks nice and perfect, the host shared that it is a challenge. “We make calculations, refine the process and keep creating new things so that it appeals to them every time they watch a new episode. We also try to make sure that the material used is widely available. Because you know, kids all over the country are watching it and they would try to make the same product so we use the material that can be accessed easily,” he commented.

He added, “But, when we sit down with our creative team, we try to crack down new activities and ways to make it more interesting. That is actually a prototype as well. My part during that discussion is mainly related to the creative process and how to get it done. To make it more interactive, I try to add my touch of humour to the show. I try to make the objects come alive so that a child finds it interesting.”

The artist who is in town for a family festival, BuddyDaddy Family Bash would be seen conducting workshops with kids for one-and-an-half hour. “We will use raw materials and try to create something out of the box. I find it more easier than TV, because on television — it is like a monologue where I am the only one-  speaking. But, during these workshops, I involve kids in the process and they can ask their questions and that gives me an opportunity to interact with them directly.”