Devi Seetharam, was born in 1989 in Trivandrum city in the state of Kerala, India. The daughter of a diplomat, she has since lived in India, China, Cambodia, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand. She is currently a student of Class Twelve at Taipei American School, Taiwan. She intends to pursue her university studies in Fine Arts.
Devi’s interest in art and skill with colors became noticed when a picture she painted in school at the age of nine, was chosen for a calendar. The teachers who have guided and encouraged her love to paint are Madame Shishine in Geneva, Khun Ari and Mr. Russell Fadavi in Bangkok.
Devi has tried out different media such as water colors, pastels, acrylic and oil paints. She also covers a wide range of subjects from still life, figurative to abstracts. She is still at a stage when she likes to experiment with different styles, techniques and themes. Her works convey a sense of maturity far beyond her age both in terms of the subjects and their treatment. The opportunity of living in different countries has given her a truly international outlook that is reflected in her works.
Devi participated in an ‘Art Exhibition’ organized by the The United Nations Women’s Guild at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2002.
Devi was also among the contemporary Indian artists whose works were included in the exhibition ‘Art Beyond Words’ organized by Viji Hashim in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2006. She helped organize an art workshop and auction to raise funds for the Refugee Center in Bangkok. The Nation newspaper of Bangkok featured her painting “Bangkok Rush Hour” in the Smartlife section in September 2006.
I’m aware of my impact on certain people. I see their need to open up, and I often offer myself, for them to connect to. It may be silly, but I feel I understand the need to have people and therefore I present myself to make connections. In fact I’m addicted to making these bonds. I do it so much that I find myself torn between people. And I find myself never truly there for anyone of them. I find them, waiting on me, constantly available to my needs, but I am divided between them all, trying to one on one sustain each relationship at a certain depth. Eventually at different phases, I find myself too stretched and am faced with the need to make a decision. It isn’t right to have people wait on you. Instead I believe the dependency should be as equal as possible. Therefore a choice must be made as for who remains in my life. In this painting it is about me feeling the weight and need to make a decision, because, those I am to choose between cannot both forever co exist. The figure to the left represents pressure and an urging to make me choose, while the other understands and is willing to wait for my decision. Even with such bold expression of character my decision remains undecided. And the burden of decision sets in.
The previous city I lived in, was Bangkok, Thailand. I have been moving all my life since I was 6 weeks old and Bangkok was our (my family and I) most recent posting. I lived there for 3 and a half years, stretching from September 2003 till December 2006. My attachment to the city may have to do with my age, and the “critical” time period of growth that I underwent there. The most important factor to me, in each place, is settling down and making good (real) friends. Like for anyone else, this provides a comfort and a feeling of acceptance in any surrounding. All in all, whether it be the food, the people, the culture the climate… in the little more than 3 years that I spent in Thailand, has lead me to love the place. This painting is my attempt to capture a simple yet popular icon of Thailand’s colorful tuk tuks. I had always found it a thrill to ride in one. It’s queer shape, bright colors, and gusting wind; to me, was an all time high. The same characteristics seem to describe my reason for fascination of the city; the vibrant lifestyle, pace and open minded attitude.
Often what triggers my inspiration for a painting is the music I listen to. While listening, I am often more receptive, and (strikes a chord in me) sensitive, and as I close my eyes, soaking in the lyrics and melody, images form in my mind, and my feelings are transformed into a visual image. Celebration 1, portrays my feeling of pure joy or contentment. It’s the act of accepting, and absorbing, appreciating and valuing a split second of bliss. Often sorrow is easier to dwell on; problems are easier to focus on. But I find it important to remember these peaks. And to continue to be receptive to them. And just live in the present, absorb what you have instead of fretting over what has passed, and what may come
作者再度以此手法詮釋盡情享受人生之重要性。
Once again it’s about sheer joy and living in the moment. It’s about acting on instinct, and absorbing the urge. It’s about carefree fun, without consequences. The jumping in the air is a carefree often wild act. Uncalculated. A joint act of fun.
Celebration 3 relates with the previous two celebration pieces. This piece is all about capturing the moment. To pause and soak in the moment. To realize the luck of the joy. Perhaps the effort that has paid off. Or a pang of gratitude for the moment.
It’s one of my little mottos in life. That everyone has problems. Yet when one is down, they feel like the loneliest person in the world. That feeling troubles me. Both when I feel it and when others do. Therefore I constantly remind myself and others that everyone is going through something very similar and therefore one is never alone. By approaching people in a certain way, you can have them open up to you. Many people are so focused on dealing with their issues alone; it eventually weighs them down and turns into a burden. They often need to be heard. And need to know they’re not unique in their issues. This painting is about going past what is apparent. It is looking past the pleasant surface to find a different world of troubles. Often to reach that reality. Or one’s true views, it can hurt. And uncomfortable feelings are uncovered.
Often when I close my eyes images flash through my mind. Often triggered by a simple phrase, a feeling or an event. One day as I lay with my eyes closed, I visualized… in flashes: a little girl, looking down at her feet, standing on a bed of grass. The next scene was of rolling green hills in the distance against a bright blue sky. The girl looks at her feet again and looks up at the hills and points and says, if I were to stand on those hills, would my feet touch the sky? I like this piece because it seems simple. I see beauty in her aspirations. This piece could depict ambition.
All my life, since I was six weeks old, I’m been moving from country to country, staying in one area for less than 3 years. I am now 17 years old, and have lived in 8 different countries. It definitely has been great exposure. And I’ve met amazing people. I have always settled down in places we’ve moved to and I always found great company. I have friends littered all over the world who continue to matter in my present life. Yes moving has given me a lot of exposure, and I have seen and experienced different things compared to most teenagers of my age and roots. It has made me what I am today and will continue to mark its influence in my life. Moving so much has not closed me to attachment. Instead attachment, commitment and relationships are among the higher of my values. And therefore, moving to a new place, building a new life knowing I’ll have to start over again in a few years, is hard. It’s not so much a looming fear that, “oh I’ll be moving again soon”, but it is just incredibly hard to deal with the move when it happens. Boxed is simply about having to constantly move. How all physical material objects are packed and ready to move, yet a hollow feeling still remains. Things are left behind, and the future of both the past and of the new is uncertain.
During my stay in Bangkok, I lived downtown, while my school was quite far away. Each day I would wake up at early and catch a bus to school. I’d often find myself looking out the window. The route back and forth from school, involved twisted rides on a packed highway. As my bus would rush by, cars, buildings, people, life turns to a blur and I would wonder, where is everyone rushing to? Everyone has goals set. Each with their personal schedule. And I stand in awe watching the world pass by. People spending their lives, rushing from one thing to the next. However, I also see signs that transcend time, like the monk in the foreground.
There are moments in life that refuse to go away and leave behind lasting impressions. The death of a person close to one and how people react in different ways to the same event is portrayed in this painting. Grief is an intimate and intense emotion that can isolate you, but it is the time when you need others the most. Sharing the grief is an act that provides comfort to each other. Grief goes beyond the particular context that may have caused the emotion. So clothes that would have specified a time, space or cultural context have been avoided.
Credited for its simplicity, it truly is simple. It began only with it’s background, a symbol of division. The colors in my opinion reflecting, earth, thus culture. The piece was empty and untouched for a longtime, until a family album, of a trip to Namibia was uncovered. The shade of brown resembled the shadow of the Namibian dunes, and a lone antelope fit. Its abstract setting and the lone soul seems to connect with all its audience. It conveys a sense of beauty and yet almost a beauty in isolation. The surroundings unclear, yet the individual is crisp.
Decisions have to be made. I think adolescence truly is a stage when one reflects on the impact of our current decisions on our future. There is the fear of whether we made the right choice. This piece is about pushing people away. There is interest from one figure, a seeking for acceptance while the other seems to be in the motion of turning away and denying the connection. The left figure is turning to the light, the hope that it is the right decision. There is no certainty but she is making the choice of denying what lies to her right. Fear of such decisions, is the fear of fear.
In December 2004, I was in Phuket, staying with a friend when Tsunami struck, killing thousands of people on that island and many more in other places. From a safe distance, I actually watched the second wave stike the beach. The day unfolded with rising death tolls and terrible personal stories. The painting is not a self portrait but a portrayal of a witness. Her eyes carry the turmoil of the wave.
The focus is on identity versus globalization. This piece represents the will and capability to stand alone. The use of wall putty, is in effort to create an imprint, resembling a fingerprint, thus a statement of identity. The color blue reflects loneliness, coldness, isolation, independence, and the rich combination of hues and shades represent the versatile depth to its identity.
Meant to capture the embrace of society. The choice of company. A joint effort. A harmony. The choice of color shows warmth, earth and culture. Once again the use of wall putty, to demonstrate identity, yet the overlap signifies the melding of forms. And the variation in color representing the versatile contents.
Adapting to change. A figure being consumed by drastic, chaotic depths. A sense of being transformed and battling to maintain oneself. Once again the emphasis on the imprint of the hand and a featureless face, part of the process of change and consumption.
A first attempt at sculpture. A cast of myself. A 3D rendering of a need to pull away. As the neck cranes to distance from the offending source and the eyes shut in denial, an attempt to protect what one holds to be of importance.
Tackles the simple joys in life. The simple moments, where one feels absolutely fulfilled. A high, where one feels, totally at peace with another and where time stops, or at least is not a factor.
The image came in a dream. Its visual appearance and the general emotions evoked by this piece seem to contrast with its title. The title fear is given because there are no certainties. We try to seek stability but once we realize that there are no certainties, we see that stability comes and goes with routine that is created and discontinued. Though there is reason to fear everything, we must overcome that fear in order to live.
I have recently joined a Chinese painting class instructed by Mr. Wang Nan Hsiung. The reason for me to attempt learning this distinct style is to absorb my present surroundings and culture here in Taiwan. By learning new disciplines, style and techniques, I will imbibe greater experience and widen my resources. The classes have been really fun. My teacher and all his other students have been particularly warm and encouraging.
I have recently joined a Chinese painting class instructed by Mr. Wang Nan Hsiung. The reason for me to attempt learning this distinct style is to absorb my present surroundings and culture here in Taiwan. By learning new disciplines, style and techniques, I will imbibe greater experience and widen my resources. The classes have been really fun. My teacher and all his other students have been particularly warm and encouraging.
I have recently joined a Chinese painting class instructed by Mr. Wang Nan Hsiung. The reason for me to attempt learning this distinct style is to absorb my present surroundings and culture here in Taiwan. By learning new disciplines, style and techniques, I will imbibe greater experience and widen my resources. The classes have been really fun. My teacher and all his other students have been particularly warm and encouraging.
I have recently joined a Chinese painting class instructed by Mr. Wang Nan Hsiung. The reason for me to attempt learning this distinct style is to absorb my present surroundings and culture here in Taiwan. By learning new disciplines, style and techniques, I will imbibe greater experience and widen my resources. The classes have been really fun. My teacher and all his other students have been particularly warm and encouraging.
