Artist Bio:
Shriya Sekhar Patnaik is an artist aspiring to become an Animator and is currently studying as a BFA Emerging Media: Pending Major. She is an Indian immigrant and has studied in a total of three different countries throughout her life: India, Singapore, and USA. She has always been moved by bringing her thoughts and emotions to life and decided that animation was the best career path to follow her passion. She is intrigued by animals, nature, and architecture the most. She loves exploring ways to incorporate emotions into these curiosities. Her art often carries a representational message that usually connects to her experience as an immigrant child. Her struggles and even her achievements are prominent in her artworks. Her future aspirations are to inspire but also provide. Her first priority is to be able to give her parents the comfortable life that they've given her in 10 fold. Her second priority is to inspire the generations to come. She wants to inspire children to believe that cartoons are not old or boring, but they are full of life. She wants to remind them that animated shows carry a nostalgic emotion that most other shows cannot.
Artist Statement:
My artworks are representations of my experiences as an immigrant child and all the complex ways I’ve handled my intricate emotions. I treasure the art of symbolism and often convey this within my artworks. These works express my most vulnerable feelings: I often look towards the optimistic viewpoint of any situation and most of my artworks are a direct reflection of that. While acknowledging the challenges I've faced, I love emphasizing the beauty of the pain that is being endured. Prominent subjects I take on are humans, buildings, nature, animals, and sometimes even organs. I find pleasure in colorful yet harmonious works, as well as an exceptional amount of detail. They appear to be chaotic at first, but with careful attention, it transforms into a symphony of my life. My artworks showcase my worldviews, struggles, and my obsession for symmetry and animal anatomy. I also love playing with atmosphere in my work using small but significant details: maybe some emphasis on the eyes or a softer vibe with pastel colors. These works express my innermost thoughts and feelings, and share a small piece of my story with those who choose to listen.
