Suchitra Mattai Guyana, b. 1973
alien, 2022
Acrylic, gouache, fabric, beads, trim, appliqués, tassels and fringe
70 x 50 in
177.8 x 127 cm
177.8 x 127 cm
8695
The title of this work by Suchitra Mattai could refer to the official status of the female figure—as either a legal or illegal alien—or it could reference the shining, rainbow...
The title of this work by Suchitra Mattai could refer to the official status of the female figure—as either a legal or illegal alien—or it could reference the shining, rainbow ringed planet floating above her head. Partially concealed and partially revealed, she exudes confidence amid a celebratory garden of appliqué flowers and fringe. The dreamlike picture space is assembled with craft based techniques and materials, suggesting a realm of imagination, creativity and possibility. A constructive and even joyful visual meditation on the concept of claiming space in the margins, the sense of agency the figure exudes is a reflection of her inner being as much as her outside reality.