Suchitra Mattai Guyana, b. 1973

Clothespins form the bulk of the earth colored elements in this woven sculpture by Suchitra Mattai. With imagery suggestive of a glint of moonlight shining on a sandy shore, the piece belongs to a body of work influenced by the history of water migrations common to so many immigrant experiences in the United States. Mattai’s family migrated from India to the Caribbean during a time of colonial indentured servitude. The indentured labor performed by generations of women in her family is referenced by the materials and processes Mattai mobilizes in her work. In this piece, vintage saris are woven together along with golden tassels and cords. Mattai uses everyday saris, which contain traces of their histories such as textures and smells. They were worn by everyday women while they worked and went about their lives. The title and iconography in this work embodies Mattai’s interest in how her own life and work and choices push the story of her ancestry forward in hopeful, joyful, peaceful, and constructive ways.