Reclaim and Reimagine: Shivani Patel
June 21 - June 29 2024
Free & open to all
Drawing from caste-based occupations and materials, Reclaim and Re-imagine is a series of photographic, textile and ceramic works by Shivani Patel that seeks to confront and heal from casteism.
The artist’s knowledge about caste was mostly limited to whispers from members in the South Asian community, which gradually put her family’s protective avoidance of caste into question. Through workshops and conversations, performance and soft activism, Reclaim and Re-imagine differently reconnects with the artist’s ancestral shudra farming lineage on the one hand, while testing the boundaries of caste-defined crafts and materials on the other. She also sourced locally farmed clay to meticulously recreate the lotas, a vessel for water, grain and other domestic items. Embossed with wheat and lavender, the lotas acknowledges Shivani’s family’s artisanal caste and her hope to heal from past traumas.
Documentation images credit: Jules Lister.
Shivani Patel’s practice explores the intricate layers of cultural heritage, diaspora and the complexities of dual identity. Her photography embeds self-portraiture, storytelling, semiotics and still life, incorporating tangible materials through textiles and sculptures. Shivani’s practice seeks to cultivate a heightened awareness and nuanced understanding of South Asian beliefs within the context of Western environments, striving to bridge cultural divides and foster connection.
