Meet Sevag Mahserejian

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sevag Mahserejian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sevag below.

Sevag, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I take being at play seriously; and when I’m creating art, I’m at play. When you are busy running around in your imagination, you tend not to stop and reflect on whether you should set limits for yourself. It is this limitless approach to trying new things, diving into new mediums, and exploring various art forms that has continuously nourished my confidence as an artist. For visual arts, I started off big with installations and transforming large spaces. The process of formulating an idea then navigating the hurdles and logistics of assuming responsibility for breathing life into it is a journey which, when repeated, propels your growth.

While creating large installations gave me the confidence to showcase my work in other mediums, my experience in visual arts is not isolated from performance art or from my upbringing that has continuously been saturated with culture and art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am currently working on paintings for my next solo exhibition. The new series explores the motifs and symbolism found in Armenian tapestry. Growing up Armenian in Los Angeles, there has always been an emphasis on maintaining my culture and language. By defragmenting and repurposing the imagery from my culture, I am aiming to breathe new life and contribute to its vast history and richness in the arts. I’ve set the parameters and I’m inspired to see how far I can stretch this idea.

Simultaneously, I have been working on commissioned paintings and exploring art in the digital space.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Taste, curiosity, and diligence.

While skills can be acquired, taste is developed and modeled by external factors. I have always been grateful and aware that the home I grew up in, the family and friends who were a constant, and what I was exposed to early on contributed to my influence and taste. The array of scents and colors that dressed my mother’s kitchen, the abundance of melodies inherent in our family gatherings, and the ever present exposure to art in all its forms instilled a standard that barred me from living a day without creating or enjoying art.

I am as drawn to science and literature as I am to the arts. The study and exposure to other disciplines has provided me with boundless ideas to entertain, break apart, manipulate, and give shape to. One day I am fascinated with mycelium, nature, and psychology, another it is an obsession with chess or history. Being curious and the act of exploring questions is a gift of constant inspiration.

Lastly, I always strive to improve myself as a person and the work I create. I trust my process when creating art and I trust the input of a select few. My work ethic is a balance between diligence and being at play.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

The complexities of completing any task or project can seem overwhelming when they’re perceived as being unique. I believe by repeating this process, you come to realize that the process of managing the many moving parts and anticipating the obstacles that will surely arise are all the same. Once the process becomes familiar, it minimizes the sheer pressure of facing a new task.

Whenever I begin a new project, have a deadline to compete with, or dive into learning a new medium, I expect an initial lull. It’s like looking up at a giant wall to climb; an elaborate puzzle to solve. Fortunately, I love chess and solving puzzles, so I do not allow myself to dwell in this stage nor do I instill a false sense of having a smooth journey ahead. I expect obstacles, both mental and physical, and welcome them. If it were too easy, then I know I’m not on the right track. I have reminded myself of two things when creating art. The first is to create; the second is to not fall in love with a piece too quickly.

Going through this process repeatedly forges confidence. You begin looking at each new project, painting, or deadline, not as a foreign beast to face, but as a puzzle you’ve already solved.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artofsev.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofsev
• Facebook: Art of Sev