NOM : Tales of the Diaspora

NOM was a group exhibition presented at AMP Gallery in Peckham, London between October 20th and November 4th 2018.  It was curated and facilitated by The Laundry Arts, an arts collective championing a platform and space for female and BAME artists. 
As one of five artists in residence, Renuka was invited to explore our relationship with food.  The piece, Culinary Threads: A tale of the Diaspora aimed to delve into identity and racial politics involved in food and immigrant culture, and the importance/relationship of the heritage and history enshrouded in an authentically cooked dish whilst acknowledging the inevitable hybridization of cultures.  
The main textile piece was shibori dyed in an organic Indigo Vat, and embroidered with grown salt crystals and a monoprint embellished with gold leaf - a map of the diaspora, united in the strength of culinary ties.  Naturally dyed and block printed strips sat alongside the main textile piece, each indicating an core identity element of the act of eating; the textures and flavours that are specific to a culture, the gestures and tools used to eat, the plants and grain that are native to certain regions, and the quality of the land where such food is grown.  

Renuka was also invited to create artworks for the limited edition NOM exhibition catalogue - see them here.