THE ARTISTS:
Join us for an extraordinary fusion of art and narrative in a unique storytelling event, on Saturday, August 31 (2-4 pm) at South Asia Institute.
Eight dynamic South Asian American artists from the highly acclaimed group exhibition, Are Shadow Bodies Electric?, a section of the groundbreaking exhibition, What is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago series, will candidly share details of their personal artistic journeys.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHEN: Saturday, August 31 (2-4 pm)
WHERE: South Asia Institute (1925 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60616)
FREE EVENT: Registration required. ASL PROVIDED.
This is a unique opportunity to hear them recount their experiences of creating art while navigating the complexities of their intersectional identities, and to celebrate the achievements of the diverse group who have contributed to shaping the South Asian American art landscape in Chicago. The program will be led by Jitesh Jaggi, a Chicago based Moth award-winning storyteller.
This event and the exhibition " What is Seen and Unseen" is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tara Asgar is a multidisciplinary transgender artist, educator, and activist focusing on themes of gender and desire. Her early career and activism challenged conservative gender norms in Bangladesh, particularly concerning sexuality and eroticism.
Sabba S. Elahi is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and educator who grew up in a traditional Pakistani household in the Midwest. She works primarily with textiles, drawing, archival material (personal and political), and the language of Islamic art and craft to explore collective memory, nationalism, and xenophobia.
Brendan Fernandes is a multidisciplinary artist who examines issues of cultural displacement, migration, labor, and queer subjectivity through installation, video, sculpture, and dance.
Amay Kataria is a new media artist known for his innovative and thought-provoking media interventions. With a background in engineering and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Kataria is dedicated to creating experiences that fuse warmth, empathy, and community interaction through cutting-edge technologies.
A native of Delhi, India, Shaurya Kumar has been involved in numerous prestigious research projects, like “The Paintings of India” (a series of 26 documentary films on the painting tradition of India); "Handmade in India" (an encyclopedia on the handicraft traditions of India); and digital restorations of 6th century Buddhist mural paintings from the caves of Ajanta.
Tulika Ladsariya explores connections using tenderness and nurturance to discuss beauty, identity, and history. Using an interdisciplinary practice of painting, ceramics, and installation, she creates work that explores threads that link multiple worlds.
Kunal Sen started making art in 2012. He combines his electronic engineering and computer programming skills with drawing and painting skills he picked up at the University of Illinois and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Udita Upadhyaya, born in New Delhi in 1986, is an interdisciplinary artist, full spectrum birthworker, and educator. She obtained her Masters in Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she has since lectured. Upadhyaya currently lives and works between Chicago, Los Angeles and Mumbai.
Jitesh Jaggi is an immigrant poet and storyteller from India. A four-time The Moth StorySlam winner, he has taught storytelling workshops for the World Health Organization and the University of Chicago among several others.