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.


In Arpita Shah's words: "This is a Nelumbo Nucifera, a species of lotus that originated in India, it’s often referred to as an Indian Lotus or Sacred Lotus. I was really drawn to the delicate changes of the petals throughout the day, reminding me of the way skin slowly becomes more fragile and translucent as we age"