I grew up with textiles and colourful threads , making clothes with my mother and my father telling us stories from our Hindu scriptures . From an early age I was fascinated with stories, myths and fairytales,from all cultures. They sparked my imagination enabling me to travel to many places in my mind. The Greek myth , such as Jason and Argonauts and the search for the mythical Golden Fleece still evokes images in my mind. Symbolism and mythology has been present in much of my art work, because for me it embodies different aspects of reality , as well as truths. To me myths are far more than just stories . They are an important part of our lives , and our evolutionary history , expression , and a way of understanding the world around us whilst connecting with our own unconscious inner world.

 

The idea for the gold wire crochet dresses began during the the first lockdown.

In 2019 I saw an exhibition of work by Yinka Shonibare at the Royal Albert Museum in Exeter. The works captured my imagination and introduced me to working with patterned surfaces ,and the use of gold /silver foil and textile ( sari) fragments within my paintings. The previous year I had also visited Bath fashion museum, and I was already thinking about ways of incorporating textiles within my creative practise. The chintz designs resonated with me and reminded me of my own Indian heritage, and the gold threads and opulent fabrics I wanted to capture in 3 dimensional form . That year I saw a documentary on the fashion designer GUI Pei, and her gold dress. I was in awe of her imaginative designs , and the baroque grandeur.

 

 

GUI Pei’s dresses spoke to me of Bollywood fantasies weaved into the threads of life, and my own culture.  I chose to work with different shades of gold , because gold has a sacred and symbolic meaning in indian culture.

 

“ The Hindu god , Vishnu is called Tantuvardhan or weaver because it is said he had woven the rays of the sun into a garment for himself “ . Gold is symbolic of the sun ,the giver of life.

Cloth too has reverence and often used as an offering during prayer ( puja ) particularly in significant ceremonies e.g birth, marriage, death etc. often Sanskrit slogans are chanted over the cloth to sanctify them , embody to a magical quality through rituals .

 

This installation is part 1 of a bigger installation which is still evolving. Within this installation I have been weaving gold/ silver wire and gold threads, telling stories of my childhood and connecting with my female identity. Each of the small dresses reflect different ages and stages in my development e.g . The small blue organza dress with long golden threads is a reference to Cinderella ‘s beautiful gowns.

 

I like to work with organza fabrics because the material is reflective and glistens when light falls on its surface. The fabric’s transparent quality reminds me of how light falls on water and is in constant flux , transforming the colours . This has a magical quality.

 

 

The use of gold wire is symbolic because the exterior frames are also like armour and a protective device , wire is both fluid yet has sharp edges like the thorn of a rose . I was playing with the idea that the dresses do not inhabit a form , there is no body or head ( a keen to how some fashion mannequins have been represented . The exterior clothing mannequins are dressed in is beautiful ,beguiling. And objects of desire.The installation is also about how women are perceived .I have also used lace which is seductive, yet the colour white is associated with purity .In western culture it was a luxury and in Indian culture I have used lace to represent a veil , and the confinement of women through the system of purdah ( separation / segregation of the sexes) . The covering of the head and body are symbolic of virtue and honour.

 

The theme of red / gold dress installation,was inspired by my mother’s love of crochet and textiles .Anouskha Shankar’s album, “ Traces of you”, and Pink Floyd’s album “Endless River”; resonated with me of time passing and the cycles of life and death. The red/ gold dress is a homage to my mother, it is symbolic of the mother and daughter relationship . The dress also a reminder although she is absent , her presence lives on in me. The red/gold organza ( represents the material world) and is connected to the blue organza which represents heaven . The fabrics flow like an endless river, where the soul continues into the after life.

 

 

Thank you for looking at my work , I hope you can take something from the installation and reflect on your own journey.