Meera Sethi is an Indian-born, Toronto-based artist whose multi-disciplinary work explores the relationship between material and nonmaterial culture. With a particular emphasis on fashion, migration and identity, her practice references Indian art, design and culture to create vibrant, detailed, pattern art.Using a palette of brilliantly saturated tones, an array of bold patterns, finely rendered detail, and an even, meticulous application of paint, Meera’s aesthetic explores the cross over desi aesthetic, with a graphic illustrative interpretation.In her Firangi Rang Barangi (Hindi for "colourful foreigner") series (2009-current), she explores the relationship between femininity, dress and identity to produce a hybrid sense of style that is deeply rooted in a diasporic, transnational experience . In this work, while clothing and ornamentation boldly capture our attention, the bodies underneath remain barely visible thus emphasizing the role of sartorial expression in creating a sense of self.Finding inspiration in contemporary fashion, Eastern textiles and Mughal miniatures, each piece in this series references iconic objects of dress design from the East and West. Like much of her work, these large acrylic paintings on paper are characterized by a strong graphic painting technique and a fearless use of colour.
