FIBER : Winding and Unwinding Series
(made with leftover colorful silk thread from sari looms)
Winding and Unwinding Series
Spinning is a monotonous, meditative process that encourages the act of remembering and therefore re-living. Embracing the practices of my ancestors is always at the forefront of my work in my journey to connection my past and present. Having grown up in India’s traditional caste-based society, I belong to the weaver’s community. With that identity, I reference weaving, stitching and pattern making in my work. I return annually to India to visit family and reconnect with my heritage.
As an artist, this connection often reveals itself through material and process. During each visit, I gather the leftover colorful thread from Sari Looms directly from the weaver on small spools to re-purpose in my studio back home in San Francisco. I also bring back gold thread as it serves as a continuum in material and color to elements of my Indian heritage. With these materials, I am able to remember and transform these memories into new forms through the winding and unwinding of thread onto Plexiglas tubes. With each tube representing a day, this series is an act of connecting past and present and offers homage to my Indian roots. The suggested lines capture my memories of the fabric of the saris as well as the essences of their unique patterns. It is my intention that the meditative process that creates each fiber work conveys a contemplative and grounding experience for the viewer. With celebratory origins of Indian weddings and festivals, my color and material are intended to elicit uplifting emotions.
Spinning is a monotonous, meditative process that encourages the act of remembering and therefore re-living. Embracing the practices of my ancestors is always at the forefront of my work in my journey to connection my past and present. Having grown up in India’s traditional caste-based society, I belong to the weaver’s community. With that identity, I reference weaving, stitching and pattern making in my work. I return annually to India to visit family and reconnect with my heritage.
As an artist, this connection often reveals itself through material and process. During each visit, I gather the leftover colorful thread from Sari Looms directly from the weaver on small spools to re-purpose in my studio back home in San Francisco. I also bring back gold thread as it serves as a continuum in material and color to elements of my Indian heritage. With these materials, I am able to remember and transform these memories into new forms through the winding and unwinding of thread onto Plexiglas tubes. With each tube representing a day, this series is an act of connecting past and present and offers homage to my Indian roots. The suggested lines capture my memories of the fabric of the saris as well as the essences of their unique patterns. It is my intention that the meditative process that creates each fiber work conveys a contemplative and grounding experience for the viewer. With celebratory origins of Indian weddings and festivals, my color and material are intended to elicit uplifting emotions.