Seyiekelie Tepa speaks through his art. There’s a message in all his paintings and this is what makes the artist ticks. He started off with ‘stick drawing’, practiced sketching with the help of cowboy comics and is very deeply inspired from the very start by his Dad who is an Artist himself. Seyiekelie Tepa has been associated with Art for as long as he remembers. One of his earliest memories of massive encouragement was when his classmate of standard II insisted to buy a card of birds he’d drawn and that, when he was just seven.
Along the way, he was inspired by the books on the early masters of art but he says “you begin to develop your own style and I started to blend culture with art”. And so, he was driven to folklores and thoroughly enjoyed the stories his grandpa narrated long ago. He unwillingly expresses our culture is sort of disappearing but also strongly affirms to preserve it in the form of painting.
Besides, he believes that life as well as inspiration changes and admits that the sensitivity part as a Naga is realizing the political struggles that Nagas are going through all these years. “People cannot give justice to this. We cannot blame anyone and I began to feel that I have to stand on this in whatever way I can help” and that’s how Seyie started giving another colour to his paintings which he calls “Political Art”.
He talks about how he also drew inspiration from Kaka Iralu’s book titled “Nagaland and India: The Blood and Tears” where he also learnt his village was burnt down many times, following which he produced a painting based on the book. It was exhibited during the “Brush Song Exhibition 2003”. This was one of his big breaks into his profession as an Artist. He also says it laid his foundation and interest to the realistic form of art.
He was greatly encouraged by the fact that one of his paintings got sold during the Hornbill Festival in 2000 when the Chief Minister of Nagaland - Neiphiu Rio, who was then serving as Home Minister, bought it for Rs. 75,000/-. However, he is very adamant in making it clear that selling it is secondary because he considers Art as his mission.
Seyie Tepa then talks about a painting very dear to his heart, one that he’s done of his Mom sweeping the floor. Listening to him talk and taking a look at the painting, one is easily convinced of the passion that he has put into it. And it’s hard not to notice the importance he’s given to simplicities in life- he says ‘there’s a message in all of my paintings and here, I wanted to see my mother’s love, the devotion and quietness in her soul.’ Generally, he says Naga mothers are confined to their homes, taking care of the family and culturally they carry more load and burden but we ignore it too often. “In this generation, my part is also to give a message, a general awareness on issues such as abortion - it’s a murder whether you look it through a Christian perspective or not. Once a life is formed in a mother’s womb, I see it as a soul already” and by now you are wholly consumed by the same passion that ignites him to paint and he doesn’t just stop there but he detests any form of art that is seducing the world to materialism, selfish ambitions and corruptions.
Talking about his latest work, he explains and gives a gist of the painting wherein the human head in the size of a peanut shows how we have lost our sense of reasoning, the stomach has become the eye symbolizing materialism, gluttony- it has become a god and you want more name, fame but the eye is blind. You also see two separate walls and you are walking towards the world that will collapse anytime. The figure in the painting also stands on two different feet and symbolizes same sex marriage which the Painter also abhors.
His art truly speaks volumes of the causes he stands for. Through his paintings, he has already depicted the rich cultures and traditions that our land has, even the present critical scenario that our world is facing but also the dreams of many good things our world could have and it’s without doubt, he loves the simple things in life- which he also feels important that everyone should recognize.
However, Seyie believes that in art, some things cannot be said through words but that you have to feel it and having put so much heart into his love for Art, it is no wonder that he is a recipient of Governor’s Award 2008 for his contribution in the field of Art, also awarded the North East Young Talent Artist of the year 2008, his work was featured at “Beloved-an Exhibition of contemporary Naga Art presented by Spic-M and funded by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) in 2007. His painting was also showcased during a Group Show Exhibition at the India International Centre Delhi and many more names own his art- it’s imprinted in a lot of big projects and yet, with all these feathers to his cap, he has no air of pride around him, he doesn’t seek glory and he’s rightly loved for what he does best.
Over and above, he wishes to convey that his works are based on the Gospel and he paints to glorify God. He indirectly communicates to those who are interested in art. Somebody also said “Seyie’s Impressionistic works in oil and acrylic has found a place in private collections of art lovers in India, South Africa and Spain” then surely he must be a much loved Artist who will keep more paintings coming to satiate the hearts of art lovers, also to put his message across to fight the evils of this world. 
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