About the Artist
Seema Mathew is a self-taught multidisciplinary Indian artist based in Hong Kong. In 2014, after recovery from her second battle with cancer, she took up painting full time to realise a life-long dream of being an artist. Early in Seema’s artistic practice, she accidentally discovered the unique and beautiful effect of Chinese ink on canvas. She spent the next 5 years experimenting with this medium and developing techniques for it.
Since 2020, Seema has expanded her practice to water-soluble graphite on linen paper, which she presents as traditional framed paintings, and as sculptural forms by wrapping everyday objects with it.
Recently, Seema has introduced a tactile element into her layered ink paintings on canvas. In her most recent work, she explores themes of identity, femininity, and her Indian heritage by creating layered compositions with ink, acrylic, oil pastel, embroidery, embroidered fabrics, tassels, silicone structures and metal beads and chains.
Seema’s paintings are influenced by a wide array of disciplines, from philosophy and science fiction to physics, astronomy, and geology. Her colour palette and mark making often mirror the look of aerial photography of remote, uninhabited landscapes. Intrigued by natural textures and surfaces weathered by time, she uses
these as inspiration, layering diluted ink and acrylic to build her compositions. Seema finishes the work with a final layer of hand embroidery and beadwork, introducing a tactile dimension that subtly hints at her exploration of the sublime.
Seema Mathew has exhibited extensively in England, Hong Kong, Scotland, Spain and USA. Her artworks are in private collections worldwide.Achievements
2024:
· selected for the juried group exhibition “Now and Then” celebrating 100 years of Visual Art Scotland, at the historic Dalkeith Palace, Scotland
· selected for the juried group exhibition “Connectivity” at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago
· longlisted for Visual Artists Association Professional Artist Award 2024
· recipient of “Certificate of Artistic Achievement” from the Luxembourg Art Prize 2024
2023:
· shortlisted for the Wells Art Contemporary prize
· longlisted for Visual Artists Association Professional Artist Award 2023
· recipient of “Certificate of Artistic Achievement” from the Luxembourg Art Prize 2023
2022:
· winner International Art Critics Award at Biennale Chianciano in Tuscany, Italy
· recipient of “Certificate of Artistic Achievement” from the Luxembourg Art Prize 2022
2021:
· shortlisted for UOB Hong Kong Art in Ink award
· selected as “Artist in the Spotlight” by the Arte Laguna Prize Venice, Italy