Osheen Osheen

Osheen

Osheen Osheen

Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm an illustrator and muralist professionally and also full time day dreamer and plant mother.

Where did you grow up?
All over but mostly Taiwan, China and India.

What was your childhood like?
Erratic yet cyclic.

What did baby Osheen want to be?
A trapeze artist (saw them at a show once and found them to be the most beautiful and elegant creatures on earth) and strangely, a backup dancer (I blame Justin Timberlake.)

How has 2020 been for you?
Anxious, introspective and self reliant.

What are you looking forward to?
Hugging my friends that are far right now.

Your favourite aesthetic?
Comfort.

Comfort food?Xiaolongbao, Medu vada and coconut chutney

 


 

 

Do you remember your first foray with 'art'?
My first memories are drawing with chalk and crayons on walls at home to my mother's dismay.

Did you go to art school?
I actually graduated in Fashion but quickly veered away towards graphic design then art, so I have no background in art school.

And do you think art school is important?
I think basic knowledge and principles are essential in having a solid foundation to build on. However, it's the time and effort that you dedicate towards the education that counts not necessarily where or how.

Artists you admire?
Charles Burns, Jean Giraud, David Lynch, Caratoes, Kliu Wong, Kruttika Susarla. Sajid Wajid Shaikh, Hanif Kureshi among a few.

What's inspiring you these days?
The occasional beach days, breakfast bowls and work in progress videos of artists I love.

What's your favourite medium to work with?
Murals always, but also have been experimenting with clay and tattooing recently and that's been interesting!

Do you feel like there is an overlap between your personal style and your art style?
I pretty much always have some remnant of paint splatter or scribble on most of my wardrobe which makes my clothes feel like an extension of me.

Could you describe your artistic influences?
Outer space, futurism, strong woman, my Tamilian heritage and all things strange and gooey.

How much of your work is informed by cultural events in the world?
Art for me is a means to escape reality and surrender to surrealism. 

Challenges you face with murals?
Unfortunately safety and security for woman in public are still a crucial concern.

You work a lot with regional typefaces, how did you get into that?
Having moved around and grown up in different places early on, the question of identity and belonging were always quite complicated and difficult to decipher. My art practice is a process for me to self-reflect, re-engage with my roots, and delve deeper into where I belong and what I want to represent.

Your self care tips?
Listen to your body and do what makes you happy. Also drink lots of water and eat yo greens.

Spirit animal? 
An otter perhaps, I'd love to splash around and chill all day

    What's feminism to you?
    Fundamental and indispensable.

    Current trend you love?
    Neon everything!

    Most reliable accessory?
    Septum ring and combat boots.
      What are you watching these days?
      Re-watching all time faves like Archer, Ghibli Films, Adventure Time and Midnight Gospel.

        If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
        Outer Space and dreamscapes.

        Any predictions for the future?
        Hopefully it's more empathetic and less regressive.
         

        Styled by Veer Misra. Photographed by Tenzin Lhagyal.

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