Mathushaa Sagthidas - An Inspiring Creative

Mathushaa Sagthidas shares and talks about her journey and purpose as a creative.

I’m Mathushaa Sagthidas, but you may also know me as @mathuxphotos on Instagram! I’m a fashion photographer, stylist, and creative director, and currently completing my photography degree at Camberwell College of Arts.

Mathushaa Sagthidas

I have a strong interest in fine art, and of course in contemporary fashion and styling - something that I became really drawn to after studying fashion promotion at Ravensbourne University London. There, I really discovered and fell in love with fashion photography. My work often examines identity and includes my own experience with it: with a Tamil Eelam ethnicity and British nationality, my identity guides my creative process. My complex cultural identity is, therefore, often present in my photographs.

One of her photoshoots

My work reflects what I strongly advocate for, which is bringing authentic and genuine representation of South Asian communities to the fashion industry. My work and my creative process is my way of understanding, learning and discovering more and more about the various aspects of my Eelam Tamil identity. Eelam refers to the struggles that resulted from the Tamil genocide and Sri Lankan Civil War, which is the reason my parents emigrated to London. The more I become immersed and involved in the fashion industry, the more I realize how much the industry lacks representation of BIPOC creatives - something which is crazy to me, as I know so many. With my position in the industry and what my work reflects, I am able to address this lack of recognition, especially for South Asians. I’m hoping that the work that I create does not only create brown f*cking magic (something I’ve said in previous articles), but also gives a platform to the incredibly talented South Asians that I collaborate with.

Article written by Mathushaa Sagthidas.