Suchitra Mattai Guyana, b. 1973
love, labor, and the pursuit of happiness, 2022
Vintage saris, my Mother's sari, ghungroo bells, clothes pins, and fabric
70 x 72 in
177.8 x 182.9 cm
177.8 x 182.9 cm
8709
In this woven wall sculpture by Suchitra Mattai, we see layered, lyrical waves of color and texture emanating out of an upside down heart. The heart is fashioned from ghungroo...
In this woven wall sculpture by Suchitra Mattai, we see layered, lyrical waves of color and texture emanating out of an upside down heart. The heart is fashioned from ghungroo bells, which are normally tied in strings and hung from the ankles of classical Indian dancers so the audience can both see and hear the intricate footwork. The sinuous composition is woven from vintage saris, including Mattai's mother's saris, as well as rope, clothespins, and found fabric. The materials and methods Mattai uses in this work are reminiscent of the domestic labor her female ancestors performed as Indian indentured servants in the Caribbean but are also part of a more universal labor attributed to women. Born in Guyana, Mattai creates work that connects her contemporary experiences as an Indo-Caribbean-American female artist with her family's relationship with ocean migration, colonialism, and intergenerational storytelling.