Arpita Shah
Moti’s Tiffins (from the series "Nalini"), 2015
Framed Archival pigment inkjet print
71.1 x 88.9 cms
28 x 35 ins
28 x 35 ins
Series: Nalini
271844
Provenance
Arpita ShahExhibitions
9 February–7 April 2019: Nalini, Street Level
Photoworks, Glasgow.
12 October–16 November 2019: Nalini, An Lanntair, Stornoway, Isle of
Lewis, part of Purvai.
17 January–17 March 2020: Nalini, Impressions Gallery, Bradford.
6 October 2020–11 April 2021: Towner International, Towner Eastbourne (group
exhibition).
12 April–July 2024: Nalini, Duff House, Banff; Street Level Photoworks
with Historic Environment Scotland. Closing date differs between sources (14 or
21 July); exact date unconfirmed.
13 June–4 October 2026: Nalini, Firstsite, Colchester.
Publications
Literature
Rhombie Sandoval ‘Interview with Arpita Shah’ Anywhere BLVD, 2019 (online).
Spanning India, East Africa and the UK, Nalini explores the connected histories of Arpita Shah, her mother and her grandmother. Bringing contemporary portraits and still lifes together with family photographs...
Spanning India, East Africa and the UK, Nalini explores the connected histories of Arpita Shah, her mother and her grandmother. Bringing contemporary portraits and still lifes together with family photographs and heirloom objects, the series traces the effects of migration, distance and loss across generations. Shah’s search through family archives and visits to places connected with her maternal ancestors led to new discoveries about their lives and relationships. The title is her grandmother’s name and the Sanskrit word for lotus. Flowers recur as offerings to the women in her family: the lotus symbolises femininity, fertility and rebirth, while bougainvillea connects memories of India and East Africa. Photographs of bodies, possessions and places bring these family histories together.
Moti’s Tiffins presents metal food containers grouped in a domestic interior, their reflective surfaces set against pink furnishings. The stacked containers introduce objects of everyday use within Shah's family.
Moti’s Tiffins presents metal food containers grouped in a domestic interior, their reflective surfaces set against pink furnishings. The stacked containers introduce objects of everyday use within Shah's family.