“Sometimes a painting chooses you, not the other way around,” reflected painter, writer, and director Vidya Birkhoff.
It began with a photograph—a portrait shared by her friend, photographer Vin, of Scott Rambarran’s daughter, Selena, dressed in beautiful Indian attire for Divali.
“He thought I might want to paint it,” Birkhoff recalled.
“I loved the image, but I hesitated because I was intimidated by the atmosphere—the emotion it carried. So, I put it aside.”
Months later, a message from Vin changed everything.
“Did you hear the news?” he asked. “A man went to purchase a car and never returned home.”
Birkhoff had seen the headlines. The story was everywhere. But Vin’s next words left her stunned—the man was Selena’s father.
“I stared at the photograph of this little girl,” she said softly.
“Her innocent face lit by the glow of a diya... and I couldn’t imagine the weight of that loss for her and her mother. I knew then I had to paint it. Not for me, but for them.”
News of Scott Rambarran’s murder was widely reported, as was the subsequent charge against the accused. (Trinidad Guardian, July 27)
As she began working on the piece, memories of her own childhood Divalis came flooding back.
“I remember when my father used to cut bamboo and set the diyas for us to light. It was such a joyous time. We’d spend the day helping my mother with chores, waiting eagerly for evening prayers to end so we could run outside, light the diyas, and spark our star lights.”
That memory of light and joy deepened her resolve.
“It made me think about what little Selena has lost, and how important it is to preserve moments of innocence like hers,” Birkhoff said.
“So I picked up my brushes and went to work on Divali Glow.”
The finished painting is both a tribute to Selena’s beauty and spirit and a symbol of resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
“At first, I thought I’d give the painting as a personal gift,” Birkhoff shared.
“But then I realised it could serve a greater purpose—to help support Selena and her mother in a more meaningful way. So I decided to auction it, with all proceeds going directly to them.”
For Birkhoff, Divali Glow embodies the essence of the festival—the triumph of light over darkness.
“This painting was born out of tragedy,” she said, “but I hope it can shine a little light into Selena’s life and her mother’s heart.”
Selena turned nine on October 6. As Divali 2025 approaches, Birkhoff hopes that when the diyas are lit, Selena will feel some of that same warmth and joy she once felt as a child—“a reminder that even in the darkest times, love and light can endure.”
The artwork, Divali Glow (20x16”, oil on wooden panel, framed, signed, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity), is being auctioned with a reserve bid of $3,200 (US$475).
Bidding closes on October 31, and the winner will be announced on November 1 — All Saints’ Day.
About the artist
Vidya Birkhoff is a graduate of the Ani Art Academies (2021). Her work explores nostalgia and West Indian identity through vibrant figurative and still-life compositions, blending classical Trompe L’oeil techniques with expressive Caribbean colour. Based in Tobago, she is the director of the Yellow Butterfly Studios Art Gallery on the Scarborough Waterfront. Her art has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections across T&T, the wider Caribbean, the UK, US, and Canada.
To bid for Divali Glow or contact the artist:
📧 vidya.birkhoff@gmail.
