Artist Meera Sethi celebrates her diverse cultural heritage in a series of works titled Firangi Rang Barangi on display at a designer boutique in south Mumbai

Toronto-based artist Meera Sethi's collection Firangi Rang Barangi is a celebration of diverse identities. "The ideas must have been floating around in my subconscious for a while, because when I began the first pieceu00a0- Jaanu00a0- there was almost no struggle, no trial and error. I had no plan to make more or conceptualise a series," says the artist who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from York University in Toronto, Canada.u00a0

The ongoing series of paintings, which was started in 2009, depicts women draped in fearless colours and stylish fabrics with ornate patterns. "The inspiration for this collection comes from my everyday life, from the back and forth between India and Canada, from the way people get dressed each day and tell stories about themselves," says Meera about the large acrylic on paper paintings.



Far from finding the scale of the works daunting, the Delhi-born artist says she found it to be a liberating experience. "As a woman, I find making large works very freeing. I plan to work on much largeru00a0 paintings just as soon as I can find the space. Large works can't be ignored."

Not 'everywoman'
Meera explains that the focus on the garments and accessories is to emphasise how clothes are often used as an extension of the 'self', which is also why exposed parts of the women's bodies, including their faces, hands and legs are either not in the frame or remain barely visible as pencil sketches.

"Part of the significance of naming each work is to claim an identity; to say that someone is here: bold, confident and very alive," says the 35-year-old artist about her creations, which include Jaan, Ila, and Pyaari.
"I choose names that I like. All are terms of endearment or affection or words that hold beautiful meaning.



I like words and I like the Indian practice of naming children with concepts and characters taken from history, culture and language. I wanted to remind people of this and of the sensuality of Indian names," says Meera.

This is me
Each woman's name appears as an accessory in the paintings featuring her - a choice that has special significance for the artist who describes herself as a "hyphenated Indian". "I grew up in Toronto always searching for the names of accessories that were for sale in malls and I always left disappointed. Part of the experience of naming each piece is a response to this lack of visibility I felt while growing up."

Looking back, Meera says she considers it a privilegeu00a0- for the most partu00a0- to be born in India and to have immigrated to Toronto at the age of two, as the experience put her in a position where she could "pick and choose" the best of both worlds.u00a0"The paintings belong to a third place that is imagined, where these cultures come together seamlessly."

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