An artist, educator, researcher, and curator, I am curious and open to process-based, experimental creative practice that mediates meditative making with actively nurturing a sense of community. I am currently creating a new body of drawings incorporating forms from Bengali kanthas, the study of human anatomy, and plants, interlinked by free-flowing lines and playful patterns.
My practice comprises expanded forms of drawing, photography, collage, installation, and altering found books. I am learning to use sound, poetry, chanting, and projections and opening to new influences via residencies and direct public engagement.
Central to my artistic narrative is a creative re-interpretation of my matrilineal heritage of hand-embroidered Bengali quilts, known as Kanthas. I adopt an auto-ethnographic, decolonial, and feminist perspective and reinterpret historical works otherwise preserved but silenced in Museum collections. In practice, I recalibrate the Kantha into diverse media forms, ameliorating the current oversimplification of the tradition.
As a scholar, textiles, objects, and studying the works of contextually relevant artists become a portal into richly engaging stories and lesser-known histories that bridge the past and the present, the local and the global.
As an educator, I offer a warm and nurturing approach, facilitating studio practice and discussion, critiques and individual expression, experimentation, intercultural inclusion. I teach in both tertiary, and community settings traversing a wide range of topics, and deliver talks and workshops. I enjoy customising the delivery and the modules to suit the audience and the learners.
Education:
2024 Ph.D. School of Creative Practice (Visual Art), Faculty of Creative Industries, Education, and Social Justice (CIESJ). Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Meanjin- Brisbane, Australia.
2022-ongoing Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education. Curtin University, Perth (online delivery).
2014-2017 Master of Fine Arts (Research) Visual art. Creative Industries Faculty. QUT.
2006-2008 Advanced Studio: Artmilk, with Dr Majena Mafe. Brisbane.
1988-93 Bachelor of Fine Arts (First Class Honours) Art History. Painting & Printmaking. Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, India.
Professional Experience as a researcher and educator:
2020, 2023, 2024. Sessional Academic. 2D Art. School of Creative Practice. CIESJ. QUT, Brisbane. Australia.
I create a welcoming sense of community within the classroom and encourage open discussions, informal critiques, and inclusive and collaborative group work. I provide formative and summative assessments and offer curatorial support to aid students in preparing their folio presentations. I utilize various resources to facilitate learning, including books, objects, artworks and found materials, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube videos, and art historical references in a global and contemporary art context. I use Blackboard and Canvas to provide learning materials, feedback, and grading.
2022 Research Assistant: Embedding Indigenous Perspectives in Creative Practice: with Dr Leah King-Smith. A third-year cornerstone project inviting specialist Indigenous practitioners across Visual and Performing Arts, Film, and Creative Writing to hold workshops with the students, I organized events, wrote a literature review, and the grant acquittal report for the Carumba Institute for Indigenous Research Excellence grant. CIESJ. QUT.
Solo Exhibitions (in Australia)
2024 ReKalibrating Kantha at Logan: Gallery 1, Logan Art Gallery, Logan.
2021 ReKalibrating Kantha: PhD examination and AIR. The Block, QUT, Kelvin Grove.
2019 A Site for Kantha: Drawing on glass walls, metal doors & display of Kantha Paintings at Z9 Building. Creative Industries Faculty, QUT, Kelvin Grove.
2019 Purpose-Repurpose: Logan Art Gallery, Gallery 1, and Young People Space. Logan.
2019 A Kantha Garden for Her: Installation, and AIR. Walker Street Gallery. Dandenong, Victoria.
2018 Uncover: Altered Artist’s Books. Public Workshops. Logan Central, Brisbane Square libraries.
2016 Mapping Nurture: The Reparation Project: MFA Examination. Frank Moran Gallery, QUT.
2015 Ma: Altered artist’s books, QUT Library, Kelvin Grove.
2011 Maheala: Multimedia. Commonwealth Bank Flagship Branch,240 Queen Street, Brisbane.
2008 Indigo Meadow: Incinerator Art Complex, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne.
Conferences, Seminars, and guest lectures:
2023 AANZ Conference, Panel Discussion, and performative performance: Migration, Resilience, Joy: Spatial practices, Objects and Rituals. Griffith University, Gold Coast. Australia. 6-9 December 2023.
2023 A talk on ReKalibrating Kantha: Department of Design, Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Bengal, India. 23 January 2023.
2023 Art and Science: two faces of creativity: Unconnected Yet. Panel discussion. Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, Bengal, India. 18 January 2023.
2022 ACUADS (Australian Council of University Art and Design School) Conference 2022: Public pedagogy: forms of togetherness: Public art, public space, domestic/public space. Co-hosted by Curtin University, Edith Cowan University & Queensland University of Technology. Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools. Australia. 4 November 2022.
2022 Storytelling with Kantha: Edmonton Needlework Guild. Canada. 15 June 2022.
2022 South Asia: Challenges and Transformations: 15th Annual Conference of the South Asian Studies Association. Loyola Marymount University. Los Angeles. USA. 11-13 March 2022.
2021 Memory: CoVa (Centre of Visual Art) Graduate Academy, Art & Technology Panel with Transhuman Saunter: Producer: Kavita Gonsalves. Artists: Agapetos Aia-Fa’aleava & Natasha Narain. Victorian College of the Arts, Southbank: University of Melbourne. Australia. 2-3 September 2022.
2020 Guest Lecture, Practice-led research and Topics in Material Culture: The Life of South Asian Things, Haverford and Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania. USA. 6 February 2020.
2016 Work in Progress Conference: On the Edge, University of Queensland School of Communication and Arts. Brisbane. Australia. 27-28 September 2016.
2016 The Australian Women's and Gender Studies Biennial International Conference, Destorying the Joint: debating feminism, politics, and the media in Australia, QUT. Australia. 29 June-1 July.
2016 Symposium: Students in Creative Arts Research: exploring frameworks and models for the creative thesis, DDCA and University of Newcastle, NSW. Australia. 7-9 April 2016. 2016 Visual Arts Post Graduate Research Seminar: Creative Industries Faculty, QUT, Australia. 24 May 2016.
2015 Performative and dialogical presentation, Nine Schools of Art, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi, India. 26 December 2015.
2015 Performative presentation of Kantha paintings. Australia India Institute, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India. 22 December 2015.
2015 Ballarat International Photo Biennale Symposium: Borderless Futures, Reimaging the Citizen, Photography Studies College, Ballarat, Australia. 29 August 2015.
Publications:
2024 Living Kantha: A creative interpretation of Bengali women’s traditional practices. PhD Thesis. Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice. Brisbane. Australia. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/247484/
2023 Transhuman Saunter: Multispecies Storytelling in Precarious Times. https://direct.mit.edu/leon/article/56/2/125/113454/TransHuman-Saunter
2023 Sintezo 04: Drawings published in Inspiring words from inspiring women leaders. Published as an in-print and online magazine. Australia. . Edited by Caroline Austin and Jelenko Dragisic. https://sintezo.com.au/
2023 Unconnected Yet. Catalogue of exhibition at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India. Edited by Todd Bartel for the Bengal Boston Bridge. (Pages 26-27 and 146). https://unconnectedyet.com/
2022 A conversation with Bengali Australian Artist Natasha Narain. In, Sintezo. 02. A briefing on complexity, resilience, interdisciplinarity, and ideas. Edited by Caroline Austin and Jelenko Dragisic.
2021 Transhuman Saunter: Collaborative Presentation. September 2021.Centre of Visual Art (COVA) University of Melbourne. Australia. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/226321/2/THSP_COVA_Documentation.pdf
2017 Mapping a Liminal: Nurturing of Kantha into Contemporary Art. (MFA (Master of Fine Arts) Thesis) Queensland University of Technology. Brisbane. Australia. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/111574/
2016 Reflections on identity, tradition, and reconfiguration, in Narratives of Estrangement and Belonging: Indo Australian Perspectives, edited by Dr Neelima Kanwar, 260- 276, Authors Press: New Delhi. India. ISBN 9789352073931. 4 https://www.ibpbooks.com/narratives-of-estrangement-and-belonging-indoAustralian-perspectives/p/25457
Public Art Projects & Collaborations:
2024 Her Work: Collaborative exhibition for International Women’s Day. Woolloongabba Art Gallery.
2022 CIESJ (Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice) HDR (Higher Degree Research) Showcase: The Block. QUT. Kelvin Grove Campus. Australia.
2021 Transhuman Saunter: Geolocative Artwork: curated by Kavita Gonsalves & Hira Sheikh, QUT Urban Informatics Lab. BAD (Brisbane Art and Design) Festival, Brisbane & Uroboros Festival in Spain.
2021 Excerpts: QUT Visual Art Showcase, The Block, Z3, QUT, Kelvin Grove.
2020 Sideways (After 43 minutes) as collaborative caretaking. Side Gallery. Red Hill, Brisbane.
2019 Conversation at A Site for Kantha, with Dr Alice Payne & Dr Leah King-Smith. Z9. Creative Industries Building. QUT. Kelvin Grove.
2019 Portals: Kantha drawings as outdoor decals for the Tenacious Realm. Concourse: Willoughby Biennale, Chatswood in Sydney. Curated by Cassandra Hard-Lawrie.
2019 Coincidental Connections, with Karen Milder. Installation at Toowong Village Library.
2019 A Kantha Totem Pole: Forster Street art project to revive Little India, Dandenong. Curated by Jenny Pemberton-Webb.
2014 W.O.R.D.S.: In Situ art-sign installation, Logan Village precinct for the ‘Homesickness’ project. Curated by Kevin Leong and Dr Elizabeth Wood.
2013 Womb: with Karen Milder, Gasworks. Albert Park, Melbourne.
2010 The Chained Hay (Na) ku project with, Mela Fitzgibbon and Dr Majena Mafe.
2007 Human Frailty: Exhibition with Roger Hose. Brut Gallery. Brisbane.
Workshops & Residencies:
2024 Undrawing and Altered Books: Community workshops. Logan Art Gallery.
2024 Artereal: AIR expanded drawing on glass windows. Public workshops. Logan Art Gallery.
2023 AIR Lorne Community Connect: Artist residency, Altered book workshops. Lorne, Australia.
2022 Super Inday Virtual, Artist Residency: Co-facilitator: CoLove Byaneng Workshop. The Philippines. ‘Staying Resilient Amid the Pandemic in Southeast Asia.’ www.superindayart.com
2019 A Site for Kantha: Z9. Creative Industries Precinct. QUT. Kelvin Grove. Australia.
2019 Public workshops on Artist’s Books & Hybrid Dolls. Logan Art Gallery. Logan. Australia.
2019 Artist’s Book Workshop: Woodridge State High School. Brisbane. Australia.
2019 Artist’s Book workshop: Dandenong Central Library. Dandenong. Australia.
2018 Artist’s Book workshop: Logan Central Library. Logan. Australia.
2018 Artist in residence: Albany Creek State High School. Albany Creek. Australia.
2015 Kitabart: Artist’s Book Workshop: F.I.C.A (Federation of Indian Contemporary Art) is Vadehra Art Gallery's educational arm, Defence Colony, New Delhi, India.
2014 Artist at Logan Village Library: Community engagement project. Logan. Australia.
Curatorial work:
2023 Unconnected Yet: International print-based works. Co-curated with Todd Bartel ( USA) & Meaghan Shelton ( Australia) at Lorne Community Connect. Lorne. https://unconnectedyet.com/
Group Exhibitions:
2024 Stilling time sensing place: A photographic show at Lorne Community Connect, curated by Meaghan Shelton, Victoria, Australia.
2024 Murmuring Mushrooms: artistic collaboration with Karen Milder and Chrysanthe Zantis.
2024 Her Work: Woolloongabba Art Gallery. To commemorate International Women’s Day.
2023 Unconnected Yet: Bengal Boston Bridge. Iteration in Lorne, Victoria. Australia.
2023 Unconnected Yet. Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata, India. 16-22 January. Curators: Todd Bartel, Daniela Esponda, Teri Henderson, Talin Megherian, Pradip Maitra, and Somenath Maity. Founded by scientist: Dr Ujjal Sarkar, Boston. USA.
2022-2023 KAHT (Kala Bhavan Alumni from Himalayan Terrain) (Kala Bhavan Alumni from Himalayan Terrain): Centenary tribute to Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Kalakshetra Art Gallery in Guwahati, Assam. Nandan Gallery at Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, Bengal. University of Kashmir Gallery in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. India.
2021 The Plastics: Project Space, Curated by Crisia Constantine. Queensland College of Art (QCA), Brisbane. Australia.
2020 From all points of the Southern Sky:(Student section). Southeast Museum of Photography, Florida. USA. 2018 UQ (University of Queensland) Zine and Pop Culture Zine Fair: University of Queensland Art Museum. Brisbane. Australia.
2018 Libris Award: Artists books at Art Space. Mackay. Australia.
2017 Excerpts- Create X: The Block, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. Australia.
2016 Chroma: Beth Hulme Gallery, Melbourne. Australia.
2016 Four Walls: Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne. Australia.
2015 The Homesickness Project: Curated by Elizabeth Woods, Kevin Leong. Logan Art Gallery, Logan.
2015 We Wear Future: Virgin Australia Fashion Festival, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne.
Awards & Juried Shows:
2022 Juried Art Exhibition: The James Library & Center for the Arts, Norwell. Massachusetts. USA.
2022 Museum studies: Histories and Practices. Lycoming College. Pennsylvania. USA.
2019-22 Australian Postgraduate Scholarship for Research. (APA). QUT. Brisbane.
2018 finalist, Libris Awards, Artspace, Mackay. Australia. 2016 finalist, Religious Art Prize, Chapel on Station Gallery, Box Hill, Melbourne.
2013 finalist, From Darkness to Light, Chapel on Station Gallery, Box Hill, Melbourne.
2011 finalist, Untangle the Knot, Frances Keevil Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney.
Professional membership:
2019-ongoing: NAVA (National Association of Visual Art): Premium Plus Membership with Public & Product Liability, Professional Indemnity & Personal Accident cover.
Secondary Employment Experience:
2007-2023. Customer Service and Banking Specialist: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). Working in suburban and city branches and the central vault in Brisbane, I specialised in all aspects of transactional banking across personal and business accounts, credit cards, investments, and personal loans. I assisted with international transactions and sensitive matters concerning deceased estates. I enjoyed being with peers and clients from various cultural, socio-economic, gender, and age backgrounds. To bring a sense of financial well-being with care and discretion and to serve guided my time in Banking. Looking after students via school banking and assisting international students and new migrants to feel welcome and grounded was rewarding.