I remember shopping in ‘Fixed Price’ (now called Ananya) with my mom, grandma and aunties from a very young age. Whenever there was an occasion: ‘oh let’s go to Fixed Price to buy (ready made) saris. The generation that’s followed on from when we used to shop there now sell fabric to make your own sari’s with – I think that’s interesting, the way that’s changed …
My work as an interdisciplinary artist coincides with my immediate environment; living near Stratford Road in Sparkbrook, in a predominantly South Asian community, means I’m surrounded see colours, fabric and clothing.
My great grandmother was a weaver… I didn’t realise that until I was researching Coventry’s weaving industry and my mom mentioned it.
When I first started using forms of weaving in my work I built up an interesting connection with my mother, she’s become more engaged in my work because it’s something she’s familiar with; she can relate to it more because it’s embedded in our culture.
