Devishi Seth

My practice is informed by the confluence of my Indian heritage, feminine identity, and our planet’s sustenance. These influences guide the formation of my work in clay, bronze, and paint. Learning the indigenous knowledge from my ancestors, I employ their principles of nurturing nature: ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’, the world is a family. Growing up as a girl in India has shaped how I perceive the world and cultures. My work looks back at ancient temples to join the movement of uplifting Indian women. I strive to unearth philosophies through practices that are – For the community, by the community.

The materials I use are integral to ritualistic practices across civilizations and ages. Their traditional and spiritual history present in temples inspires my work’s stylization of female figures. The ceramic vessel embodies all the five elements that encompass being human: air, water, fire, earth, and the spirit. It allows me to explore the lost expanse of womanhood. Painting, one of the first forms of art making, extracts the pigment from the earth. I seek the endless possibilities it provides, creating an intersection of traditional Indian and contemporary painting styles of the female figure. I am drawn to the transformation of bronze from liquid to solid that transfigures with time. I am captivated by the process of using materials from the earth; receiving and giving back to her. 

‘Yatha Pinde Tatha Brahmande’, ‘As is the microcosm is the macrocosm.’ Signing my work as Devi, goddess in Sanskrit, I profess that I am not the sole ‘doer’ of my work. I am but a medium and my work is nothing but an amalgamation of the inspiration and efforts of interconnected souls across time.