Samundro Par Exploring traditional values alongside present-day living; celebrating our journeys; acknowledging our history.
Samundro Par aims to connect generations of British Indians to their cultural history using forms of contemporary art. Video work captures movements and performances while installation, sculpture and mixed media works present opportunities for audience interaction. 1
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Samundro Par an Exhibition This exhibition has taken inspiration from my own personal family history, using information gathered through conversations with my Grandfather, Tarsem Singh Rupra. Samundro Par translates from Punjabi to English as “crossing over seas�
In Conversation with Pops (2018) 3
Priya Rupra I am exploring South Asian diaspora in my artistic practice. I typically work in the form of live art and performance, however I felt that introducing contemporary art into this space demanded traditional forms familiar to the audience.
In this exhibition I consider colonial and postcolonial themes which question journeys, ownership and power. I would like to thank my family for their input and support throughout this project, Ramgharia Sikh Temple for accommodating the exhibition and the University of Lincoln for their resources through this semester. Email: priyarupra97@gmail.com 4
Ardaas (2018) Speech converted to text and performed blind three times.
This work uses technology to inform the miscommunications between the generations through language, environment and belief systems. The performance demonstrates the repetition of prayer and commitment one makes to holy words while not knowing or understanding their meaning fully.
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Video of performance in collaboration with Ben Rogers: https://youtu.be/ozghcn2qbFI
Famine (2018)
Reflecting the famines in India induced by the British Empire under Churchill’s orders. Performer of Indian identity is violently refused to eat rice, the staple food of India, by performer of White British identity while he struggles to consume a surplus of food.
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History: Installed (2018) Suspended cloth containing History (2017) written in binary code. Curtains from the artist’s family home of 51 years have been stitched together by the artist’s grandmother. History (2017) details the atrocities of the British Empire and calls the audience to engage in educating themselves by accessing the English translation via scanning a QR code. 9
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Rice and Ink on Canvas
Joti Jot
Embodying Guru Nanak’s symbolism of Muslims and Hindus through flowers after his death, this piece applies the colour pink for Pakistan and orange for Hindustan after the partition of India. While the piece demonstrates the division, the title and materials used encourages the viewer to consider individuals of the past and present, their journeys and livelihoods.
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Oppressed (2018) Sculpture of turban with gold writing The form of a Sikh turban is reflective of a family’s geographic journey. Sikhs have been subjugated for their turbans and long hair throughout history. The gold writing tells stories of oppression from Bhai Taru Singh to today’s young Sikh generation.
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Video: https://youtu.be/RhJNUCGUi9Y
Uncivilized (2018)
This work reflects on Indians today occupying Britain. While there are adaptations in technologies there is strength in tradition and values that were previously deemed uncivilised by the British. The video personalises culture as to avoid the fetishization of the Indian community.
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