Places: Meera Sethi– Delhi/Toronto

We are introducing the section ‘Places’ with the artist that defines the essence of what we want to communicate through it. Inspiration and ideas, as we know, are immune to any kind of walls. A workplace, therefore, is not limited to a desk or a studio or an office. It extends to cities and sometimes, entire countries. The different places we experience – and the distances we cover in between – often play a giant role in our creativity. ‘Places’ explores this idea.

Visual artist Meera Sethi was born in New Delhi, India in 1975 and moved to Toronto, Canada when she was only two years old. Of course, her relationship with India continued to grow deeper as she grew up. She frequently traveled back and forth, and from each of her trip to India, she brought back inspiration in different forms as her travel souvenirs. In her work, she often weaves together her relationship with both the countries like a dream. The idea of ‘Places’ therefore plays a central role Meera’s work and life, and this is what we talk to her about in this interview:

Meera Sethi

TFM: You are one of those artists whose influences are deeply embedded in the places you are associated with. Has this been conscious, or did projects come about based on your observations during these travels?

MS: Some artists of Indian origin have the choice of engaging or disengaging with their cultural identity. For me, there has never been a choice. India and its diaspora as a place, not just as an identity, is so deeply embedded into my consciousness. It has always been a site of exploration.

The other day I was recalling a story exactly about this. When I was growing up in school here in Toronto, I, like many others, encountered racism, sexism and name-calling. The worst part of this was when I was in or around grade 7 and the “cool” (mean, un-empathetic) kids announced to the entire class that I would be the last one to go on a date, to get married, to shave my legs because I was the “ugliest” kid in the grade. It was horrible, and while I cried in private, I never showed those kids or anyone else an ounce of emotion about this.

One of my most treasured art projects that year was a performance art project of posing as an Indian Tour Guide, wearing a salwar kameez, stretching my arms out like the wings of an Air India jet and “landing” at various Indian monuments such as the Taj Mahal and Qutab Minar. I had constructed these out of large sheets of cardboard and assembled them around the room. Because of the racism I experienced, I asked my teacher if I could do this performance after school hours, once all the kids had gone home. To my relief, she agreed and that is what I did.

Each September, as I landed back in Toronto after summer vacations spent with my grandparents in the heat and heart of New Delhi, I felt isolated and sad as I knew each year I would have to face the rejection of my classmates and the feeling of being “different”. This to me – this difference – has been the root of my art-making for the past many years.

Bird Flew – Split

Tell us more about your connection to India.

I was born in New Delhi at Safdarjung Hospital. I spent the first few years of my life living in Jangpura with my parents, maternal grandparents, extended family and my aya (nanny). My parents left for Canada when I was one and I joined them a year later in my masi’s (maternal aunt) arms. I’ve been told about various reasons why they left.

It was likely a combination of my father wanting an independent life, and my mother needing better medical treatment for cancer. My father always says that all he wanted to do was come to Canada to earn money so they could travel and resettle in India. Like so many others, these intentions shape-shifted very quickly.

My mother held down three jobs as a new immigrant in Toronto while she was being treated for breast cancer which was diagnosed before her marriage. My father was battling the severe blatant racism of the 70s, and trying to establish a book wholesale business that later went on to become extremely successful through hard work and luck.

After many years of undergoing intense cancer treatment and surviving years beyond the few that she was told were her last, my mother passed away at the age of 39. We went to Delhi with her for the last few months of her life as she wanted to be back on home soil. It was truly devastating for me and my father, and looking back I’m not quite sure how we survived when we returned to the cold, grey Toronto as winter was setting in. A few years later my father remarried, and I slowly adjusted to a second mother who was dedicated to us. In time, they had a daughter – my sister.

Growing up, I was fortunate to have been sent to Delhi almost every summer to spend 2-3 months with all sides of my family. What resulted was a very close bond to India.

What were the early growing up years like in Toronto?

As clichéd as this sounds, many of my early memories of Toronto were quite multicultural in nature. From my mother taking me to see a First Nations totem pole, to going to a church on Christmas morning, to making friends with children from various walks of life, in my early years I was a child of urban Toronto. Toronto was and is a city of neighborhoods. I have vivid memories of walking down Chinatown to get groceries and walking into old Italian fabric shops.

What do you usually do when you come to India?

I spend a lot of time in Delhi with a huge network of family but I also take a lot of time out to see a few friends I have there, visit galleries and attend events. It feels difficult at times, popping in and out of professional and creative life there like this. I feel like an outsider there despite my tremendous familiarity with the art scene in Delhi and Bombay.

Each September, as I landed back in Toronto after summer vacations spent with my grandparents in the heat and heart of New Delhi, I felt isolated and sad as I knew each year I would have to face the rejection of my classmates and the feeling of being “different”. This to me – this difference – has been the root of my art-making for the past many years.

Meera, on one of her trips

Could you talk about some projects whose inspiration came directly from India and your experiences there?

‘Firangi Rang Barangi’ was a series in which I first saw clear evidence of the hybridity that is so intrinsic to me. It was a series of paintings on paper that drew together influences from Indian clothing to urban streetwear in North America. I incorporated elements that I grew up witnessing either in India or in diasporic South Asian spaces in Canada such as parandhis, kalirey, dhotis, jodhpurs, etc.

What are some of your favorite places in India and in Toronto?

In Toronto, I love the front yards of the old Victorian homes in the city in the spring and summer season. They are small patches of manicured or untamed gardens sitting side-by-side on city streets. I also love witnessing the first proper snowfall of the year where everything is blanketed white. We have wonderful city parks and farmers markets throughout the year with one very close to where I live that I visit almost every Saturday. It’s also a city for cyclists, so when I can, cycling is a favorite.

In India, there are just so many places. I’m a Delhi girl, but have recently spent a great deal of time in Bombay. In Delhi, I love Chandni Chowk. My father who grew up going there once took me on a walking tour through the small gullies, pointing out his favorite spots. That was and still is magical. I also love some of the usual suspects like Lodhi Garden, Central Delhi and the architecture of Connaught Place. I have seen many cities in India, but there is still so much more I want to get to. Kerala is a current favorite for its everything.

Word: Heaven on Earth

Has there been a particular moment in India or while travelling which felt like a major creative breakthrough of sorts?

Every visit is hugely nourishing. Despite its heat, traffic and pollution, I crave the sustenance visits to India offer me. Each visit is different, but that injection of color, movement, family, craft, art always leads to creative breakthroughs when I return to Toronto. It’s a drug that I won’t give up.

Do you enjoy the constant shuffle?

At this stage in my life, I do. I sometimes wonder how I will navigate my two homes when I am older and less mobile. I daydream about what retiring in India might look like, but this only lasts so long as the reality of my queerness sets in.

Are there any particular places you head to if you are feeling low or facing a block of some kind?

Walking. Walking and looking around, observing, taking it all in. Getting my body moving, taking photographs. I’m quite an introvert, so spending time with myself and the world around me really helps.

Despite its heat, traffic and pollution, I crave the sustenance visits to India offer me. Each visit is different, but that injection of color, movement, family, craft, art always leads to creative breakthroughs when I return to Toronto. It’s a drug that I won’t give up.

A picture taken by Meera during her travels

Do you travel a lot in general? Where was your last trip to?

I do, and there is always room for more! Travel is a huge priority in my life. It’s in my veins. As a visual learner, I pick up a lot from looking. My last trip was to Istanbul on the way to India earlier this year. My partner and I spent a week there. It was a fascinating place with architecture and tile work that blew me away.