Posted on December 03 2020
SEUXSHI IS AN ARTIST BASED IN SHREVEPPORT, LOUSIANA. THEIR ART GRAPPLES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND EXPLORES THE DEPTHS OF LIVED EXPERIENCE.
By Amanda Mansoorbakht
We caught up with Seuxshi for a brief conversation via Instagram Direct Messaging to find out more about her and her art.
FT: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us at Feminist Trash. First and foremost, what are your preferred pronouns for this interview? I don’t want to misrepresent you or your work in any way.
Seuxshi: She/her they/them is fine for me. I’m pretty chill about either one.
FT: Great. Can you tell me about your earliest memories of creating? I guess when did you fall in love with art?
Seuxshi: A decent chunk of my family drew, so I’d see them do it and thought it was so cool. But I didn’t think I could do it myself until high school when I took my first art class. Then I was hooked on it.
FT: How much of your work is influenced by your lived experience as a young person of color?
Seuxshi: Really all of it. Everything I draw and post is a representation of my feelings at that time. That and seeing so many people of color making amazing things is inspiring to me, and I want to be one those people.
FT: How is your creative practice therapeutic for you?
Seuxshi: I’ve always had a hard time expressing myself with words, so being able to draw things makes it so much easier for me. It’s my way of journaling and meditation when I need to clear my mind.
FT: I see in all of your work there is this kind of focus on the eyes, and oftentimes, you hyperextend the lips on your creations. Eyes and lips are such revealing bits of the face. Why do you choose to emphasize these features?
Seuxshi: I had to really think hard about this one. I think it has to do with how much expression you can get out of them. With words, you can say one thing. But your eyes or your mouth can show the truth, if you really pay attention.
FT: I see you aren’t afraid of drawing people or animals that look vulnerable or even a little sad. What motivates you to draw these particular emotions and expressions?
Seuxshi: I feel that way, often just from seeing the world on the days when I’m in too much pain to move or I’m just having a bad day because of my mental health in general. I’ve tried drawing “happier” looking things when I’m in a dark place, but those themes still shine through in some way.
FT: What advice can you give to creatives who want to grow their platform on social media?
Seuxshi: Taking the time to refine your style is probably the biggest part. It took me years to feel like I actually had an art style, but hours and hours of practice and studying helped and is still helping me through that. It’s cliche, but being true to yourself is important too.
FT: This is kind of a weird question, but what do you think the world would be without art?
Seuxshi: Even though it is now, I think the world would be angrier and longer without art. Being able to express yourself is therapeutic and helps to release so much stress. People can feel seen and validated when an artist can make art that resonates with them.
FT: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. You are lovely.
Seuxshi: And thank you so much for interviewing me ❤️❤️❤️
Follow Seuxshi on instagram
Amanda Mansoorbakht is an intersectional feminist and copywriter from El Monte California. Follow her on Instagram.
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