THE ARTISTRY BEHIND A HEARTY ART

To most of us being an artist means making money and basically a living out of artifacts. One woman has a passion in arts and has done all in her powers to set up a gallery that can make her work touch others and the world as a whole.

Taj Devi is an artist by blood and deeds. She works as a painter and is also active as a fashion designer. She practices both art forms since her youngest years and studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, taking arts courses. After just a few years to this Art Academy, she chose to follow a more practical training in fashion, which resulted in the professional training for women's and men's clothing.

As a professional she was always interested in the ' ancient craft ', as a young girl she had got the inspiration from her mother who was always supportive in matters arts.

Taj Devi is creative, and sees arts as a natural thing and an all-round stuff where any item can be moulded and given a new form through imagination and creativity.

In the years during and just after her training, Taj Devi has won awards in fashion, as being a very promising talent. Basically, it has always worked for her exclusive clientele, an assurance which they could give the guarantee to all its clients, that they gained a unique garment from any of her designs.

The special thing about Taj Devi and her workers is that they don't see clothing as a casing, a garment, but as a work of art, which must fit entirely with the person, not only in color and sizes, but also in atmosphere and appearance. She believes that by such aspects and designing only can a pure image be given out.

“I know instantly what fits a client and who also uses my choice based on my experience and expertise as an artist” Taj Devi believes.

Taj Devi has spent all her life studying and practicing arts and fashion designs and has a widespread experience.

At about the age of 30, she felt the strong need to explore the world. Taj Devi is of Asian origin.

She has travelled parts of the world mostly exploring and learning different cultures and applicable designs and painting. 

She has among other things workshops in Paramaribo, at an Art Academy, but also taught modeling and trained the students, she has visited India in the Amazon jungle among other parts and countries in Africa such as Senegal, Gambia, Egypt, Mali, where she trained and opened workshops in painting and fashion as her own initiative.

Taj Devi believes that was a learning time for her and she mixed her ideas with what she experienced and shared in her tours.

After her tours and trips including countries like India and Nepal, her own descent, she has now decided to settle in Holland, Amsterdam to be exact, where she has opened an art gallery.

Her main aim is to use her work to unite different parts of the world and create awareness using different art forms from varying cultures which she aims to bring together.

Taj Devi works with many models and artists from different parts of the world and still expects more to share her work with.

She is looking for collaboration with artists in other disciplines, such as designers of jewelry, bags, hats and other fashion accessories from all over the world. Age is just a number to Taj Devi and she hopes that many upcoming designers can take art as a passion, a way of life, a lesson and a form of social bonding.

Photos by : Taj Devi - Holland
                : The late Lily Cusiel- Tanzanian model and was based in Holland
                : Dallal Tarraf- a Lebanese make up artist based in Holland.

Story by Taj Devi- Holland Amsterdam.

Edited by Frank de Leeuw- Holland.

Published by Benard Roosevelt- Dar es salaam Tanzania

A PAREE INT'L PRODUCTION Forever Inspiring.