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Suchitra Mattai:We are nomads, we are dreamers
We are nomads, we are dreamers is a solo exhibition of newly commissioned works by Suchitra Mattai that celebrates the migratory oceanic journeys of past, present, and future diasporic communities. Inspired by the Park’s position along the East River, which flows into the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, this exhibition features a series of soft sculptures made from vintage saris collected from women of the South Asian diaspora. The exhibition’s title reflects upon transatlantic migration experiences, including Mattai's ancestors who traveled from India to British Guiana (now Guyana) as indentured laborers in the early twentieth century, as well as the artist’s own personal migrations.
At the center of the Park, six futuristic pods, reminiscent of continental forms, emerge from the landscape, reflecting the dynamic interplay of the shifting sky and ecology. Draped in vibrantly colored saris, meticulously hand-woven together, these monumental forms transcend static existence, subtly evolving and adapting within their waterfront ecosystem. Here, new living beings and elements like sun, rain, and wind interact with the textiles, enriching the pre-existing lives embedded in the saris, which carry the memories of the women who wore them. These artifacts from the future serve as an ever-evolving testament to the human experience of migration and adaptation—a monument to the journey of becoming.
▸ Suchitra Mattai, becoming, 2024. Installation of six sculptures: vintage saris, net, and mirror polished stainless steel. Photo by Scott Lynch, courtesy of Socrates Sculpture Park.
Nearby, a series of seven hanging sculptures adorn the grove of trees, reflecting on notions of femininity and fertility. Additionally, at the south entrance of the Park, the Broadway Billboard features a thirty-foot collage by Mattai. Organized in collaboration with Barkha Dance Company, dance performances will activate the exhibition on June 12, July 18, and August 25. For more information, please visit our website. We are nomads, we are dreamers is organized by Socrates Sculpture Park and curated by Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Curator & Director of Exhibitions.
In this immersive installation, Mattai meticulously hand-weaves thousands of vintage saris into monumental-sized tapestries, each spanning 30 to 40 feet. Crafted through a unique process combining weaving and embroidery techniques passed down from Mattai’s grandmothers, these tapestries aim to reunite South Asian communities that have been dispersed through colonization or other means. Notice the transition between two blended colors in each pod, where one hue seemingly flows into the next as you move from pod to pod. Abstracted topographies emerge within the tapestries, at times resembling blurred brushstrokes, while the sculptural forms appear to have risen from the earth below. These continental shapes echo the dynamic movements of tectonic plates and evoke memories of the glacial deposits Mattai observed during her upbringing in Nova Scotia. The mirrored surfaces reflect clouds, birds, and trees, uniting the sky and earth with the Park’s natural surroundings. With this installation the artist asks, “Why do monuments have to be static? Instead of celebrating those in power, why can’t they celebrate the process of transformation and adaptation inherent in the migrations of individuals and communities?”
▸ Suchitra Mattai, phala, 2024. Vintage saris, rope, and chain. Courtesy of the artist and Roberts Projects, Los Angeles.
Mattai’s work reimagines and transforms histories of labor, migration, and colonial exploitation into a rich visual language of material abundance. Here, Mattai adorns the Park’s grove with seven orbs intricately woven and braided with vintage saris, featuring hues of blue and orange. This installation marks a significant expansion of an ongoing series of hanging sculptures of the same name, previously exclusive to indoor gallery settings. By situating these works within the natural environment of the Park, the artist invites them to seamlessly integrate into the flora and fauna of their setting. The title, phala, alludes to various notions of fruit, including femininity and fertility, while also drawing from the Sanskrit term that signifies the “fruit of one’s actions” in Hinduism and Buddhism. Mattai poignantly reflects, “Imagine celebrating the fruit of thousands of years’ worth of women’s domestic labor.”
