Today we’d like to introduce you to Pleiades Talukder.
Pleiades, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was just a little kid, I had found myself only interested in fine arts, crafts, music, and anything creative. While my parents urged me forward in scientific prospects, I painted endlessly and created jewelry for my family and friends. We are Bengali and I have a late great grandfather who I met when I was 6 who in his lifetime made the first art college of Bangladesh alongside his friends. First and foremost, I think that sets the stage for my story. Also, I had initially began piano lessons at the ripe age of 7. By 18, I had fulfilled my high school requirements for graduation with four years of marching band under my belt, alongside with being a section leader and the Vice President of our band in high school. In junior high, I was also the band’s president. I played bassoon during concert and orchestra season while marching cymbals and feeling more percussive during the energetic summer months. With piano, bassoon, and cymbal knowledge in mind, I had enough courage to be a part of AP Music Theory in school. That was one of the most pivotal and powerful moments of my life, deviating from the decisions to pursue AP BC Calculus or my undergraduate double major being Sociology and Biology. Unfortunately or fortunately for me my freshman year of college it was 2019 and they sent us home March 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic and this derailed my academic career. Maybe I’d have been doing research now, but everything happens for a reason as long as we make meaning out of life. Somehow, I also won homecoming queen for my highschool’s 2018 football season. This meant a lot to me as I did my best to uplift my community. Everyone knew me as this individual who had stood up for the marginalized and vulnerable and I hope and pray that this behavior can deepen and develop through all of our population and every day as we continue to navigate this lifetime. As you can see, life had taken me on many turns. My main focus in life is music, but the journey stays topsy turvy. I am grateful to have my business “Unclaimed-Superiority” because without it I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my goal of buying myself a music studio. Now I have a plethora of items to begin utilizing the lessons I gained from the beautiful teachers I had growing up. Alongside my music that I continue to work on, I’ve been blessed to continue selling my items at shows around the states. Selling chainmaille keychains, kandi bracelet, punk and cottagecore themed items, and more, I have been able to sustain myself and find more than a like-minded community. Pride is one of many glorious things that I have on my side these days. With turning 26 in mid to late August, I understand that I have been lucky and privileged enough to make a name for myself in the city as someone who continues to show up for the thing that makes me happiest. Before I forget, I have also been published in many different articles and zines. With just a few in mind I think about a CoogRadio interview I had, a bunch of poems I got to be included in with a popular locally loved Houstonian zine maker, and the People’s World global publication company. On top of it all, I also host a podcasts called “Poetry on the Patio with Pleiades,” which at this moment I have uploaded an incredible 58 episodes on YouTube. Soon, there is the achievement of pushing my work across all different platforms, but since I am a one man show I am doing it all one thing at a time. Episodes are uploaded every single Monday and I also post an interview of the month where I’ve uplifted filmmakers, musicians such as rappers and singers, theater members, painters, parents, and so many other talented individuals. I always tell people, art is not only a career, it is my oxygen and life force.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Things have not always been a smooth road! Most days I sadly struggle with disabilities that many are unable to see. With mental illnesses such as CPTSD, Autism, ADHD, OCD, BPD, bipolar disorder, and more, my foundation is already shakier than most. The cards that I got dealt felt difficult to figure out as well. Another thing people don’t get to see is that I have a metal plate and 6 screws inside my left arm. I had broken the radius bone twice, once in 2009 and once in 2019, which in 2019 April I had a reconstructive surgery of the bone alongside with the surgical metal. Alongside with the the fact that I had to drop out of college due to the COVID-19 pandemic kicking us out of UTSA’s housing, I worked as a contact tracer speaking to many sick individuals during that time of our existences. I had to document and track individuals who had been in contact with other sick people who had COVID-19 and sometimes I had patients who passed away. I also worked overnight at HEB with the cleaning team and felt like I was overworked for under appreciation. Luckily, I had found art jobs immediately following my first two jobs, but also I have been moving around a lot. Even though I am about to be 26 years old in August, I still live with my parents and that has been a struggle within itself. For some reason, ever since I was born I’ve been highly intuitive and well-informed so many thought I was more mature for my youth than I should have been. I understand now that this is a reflection of my parent’s lack of understanding and oftentimes ignorance. It obviously only does so much to repair the damage. Ultimately, I wish I was more focused on my music. Getting through the day and figuring out how to maintain my hygiene, my reflections, my community, my art, and all of my responsibilities are things that I can be grateful for at the very least. I’m always proud of myself for pushing through the hardest days and ending up on the other side stronger and more resilient
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Again, I make chainmaille keychains, bracelets, jewelry, and more decorative items. I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by many chainmaille artists that are very popular around Houston. I am constantly improving my skills because of people who I consider my teammates and coworkers who vend alongside me. Many individuals push the limits of chainmaille while I feel as if since I’m surrounded by so many different mediums that my chainmaille is mostly mixed with my other mediums. I have made a couple of watercolor paintings from the first collections being when I was 7, the second larger collection being when I was 16, and again at 25 I had pushed towards making 80 watercolor paintings. These collections spanning short bursts and periods of time with a multitude of options inside the collections are a testament to my energy in my opinion. I am sporadic including in my surrealist style and I hope to develop more hyperrealism alongside that surrealist feeling to give you a depth of both worlds whether that be through acrylic, watercolor, oil paints, or more. You can really feel the despair in the city landscapes which are made with watercolor for me. There’s this sense of nostalgia or longing in the windows, shapes, and even the glittering colors I chose. Other than 2D paintings, I also handmake sculptures. There are some fridge magnets that I included in my photos with smiles. Those simple designs are what pushed me to get into beadmaking. These days I’ve been heavily focused on making anything from hotdogs, mushrooms, spirals, simple one-color or two-toned beads, and so many more endless options. I’m excited to showcase that collection alongside all of the bought beaded jewelry I also continue to make with chains in that punk and multimedium style that I mention I enjoy incorporating. Honestly, I’m most proud of the fact that this energy comes from deep within my soul. I’ve been making art like this since I was a child and that energy is boundless inside of me. It’s a hole you can continue pulling information from. On top of that, the punk cottagecore vibe mixing cutesy alongside what is typically depicted as social depravity is what makes me me. Also, from my classical music background, I have composed a piece for a woodwind quintet. This can be found in my archived information in my personal collection and soon I’m going to be utilizing my classical knowledge alongside my own personal appreciation towards Indie artists such as Still Woozy or Crumb as some of my inspirating influences.
What were you like growing up?
When I was a child, I was quite similar to how I am now. I’ve always told people that I have memories from the womb and I recall my earliest days. My parents mention that I seemed like a very conscious baby even answering simple questions from day one when I couldn’t even hold my own head up. I learned very quickly and was very social. As an extrovert, sometimes my parents couldn’t keep up with me and I’d ask questions to strangers to deepen my knowledge before my parents even understood some concepts as I am the second generation to their first generation immigrant. I was taller than most people so this made me awkward with being so talkative, and again this is the reminder that I’ve had mental illness issues from being born where as most people mention their mental illness being something they noticed in later childhood or adulthood. I can feel left out or ostracized at times because of how I felt different in every scenario. Whether it was an outsider or scapegoat in my family or the person getting bullied at school because I knew too much in other kids’ opinions, it was really hard growing up. I was moved around a lot like I mentioned, born in Los Angeles, California deep in the inner city then moving to the suburbs of Chicago and the suburbs of Houston later, I’ve definitely felt like I’ve been all over the place both physically and emotionally. I’ve always just desired to be stable and independent. Things have been looking up for me as I have been working on moving out and I definitely feel a younger version of myself thanking me daily for creating this reality I’ve always envisioned. Again, I’ve never stopped being this individual focused on art and music. I’m so proud and grateful to be me!
Pricing:
- $5 chainmaille keychains, the picture with the purple cat stainless steel jumprings
- $10 bracelets, the ones with the smile chain hanging off on one side
- $1 linoprint cut of multiple different colored handmade stamps
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unclaimedsuperiority?igsh=MWJxZnY4cmdob3Vo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DQyD589Vf/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Twitter: https://x.com/pleiades_jpeg?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@unclaimedsuperiority?si=HbbKAPqko2o7WbTj
