Jerin Tom

They say artists are lonely. It’s an occupational hazard, being stuck in a labyrinth of the mind. The process of creation takes its toll. The kick always seems worth the agony, but only in hindsight. And just when you begin to think one might wise up and find something less torturous to pay the bills, they find myself creating something new all over again. This vicious cycle feels much like a Greek tragedy. Predictable. High on emotion. Completely avoidable. Which is why I’m convinced that every work of art is the ultimate act of defiance.

 

For me, the act of creation never truly ends. Each piece I create remains a work in progress as long as someone engages with it. Art, like beauty, exists beyond explanations and meanings—it lives in the eye of the beholder, reflecting their emotions, perspectives, and personal experiences. My work, built through abstract forms and textures, invites viewers to interpret it in their own way, extending the moment of its creation into the present. In a world full of rules and endless opinions, art must be constantly reborn with every new observer, evolving just as the artist and the world around them do.

 

My work also features a recurring symbol: an eye. It does more than just grab your attention. It’s a gateway between you and the world behind my art. It invites you back to the moment of creation and gives you the power to make it whatever you want it to be. For those of us with functional vision, our eyes are central to how we perceive reality. But with my work, the eye goes beyond shaping and colouring perception. It gives you the power to change reality however you see fit.

 

F. Scott Fitzgerald made the all-seeing eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg in The Great Gatsby seem ominous. Al Pacino likened eyes to beacons of truth in Scarface. But I’m taking the eye in a completely different direction, as you’ll see. The abstract forms and textures emerge from the eye and flow outward, as if the world behind the eye is spilling over into ours. Everything I create belongs not just to me but to everyone who views it. It’s a mirror reflecting both my thoughts and yours. You bring your perspective to it, casting new light and shadows onto the image, reshaping it. More importantly, every work I create isn’t a one-of-one. It becomes a whole new work of art with every glance, every interpretation. All of these new meanings are as true as the moment of their creation.

 

When it comes to experiencing my work, remember to do more with your eyes than just see. This is a space for co-creation. Let your eyes become a window to your soul. Let the artist within you come alive through my art.