Did you not pluck the flowers to watch them die? by Shirani Bolle
We are happy to showcase this colourful series of artwork by visual artist Shirani Bolle. This work is part of the “Library Interventions” project. This project brings visual art and the ideas behind it to the library, with a list of books that aim to expand our thinking about the artwork.
About the Artwork:
Shirani - “This series presents an imagined set of deities who create their own futuristic world. Within this work capitalism, colonialism, and the patriarchy have failed and these deities are left dealing with the mistakes of their past (our present). I use these images as a way to tell truths about our society through fictional characters. This cast of characters is inspired by masks that are used in Sri Lankan culture to heal people’s diseases and illness. They are also the figures that appear in my dreams representing my Jewish family who were all murdered in Auschwitz during World War 2. I develop the mythology of these characters as the work develops, and each work I make continues to develop their stories. For inspiration I draw on everyday slogans and imagery from advertising as well as scientific and religious symbols such as nucleons and organic cell structures. In the work I explore how meaning is not necessarily something included as part of an artwork, but something we choose to understand from it. “
Book List:
As part of this project, the artist has made a recommended reading list to accompany this work. These books are available for borrowing at the library:
- Capitalist Realism- Mark Fisher
- The New Age of Empire- Kehinde Andrews
- Strong Female Character- Fern Brady
- Who rules the world- Noam Chomsky
- What white people can do next- Emma Dabiri
- Steal as much as you can- Nathalie Olah
- Sacred Instructions- Sherri Mitchell
- Active Hope- Joanna Macy, Chris Johnstone
About the Artist:
Shirani is a self-taught, mixed heritage artist with Sri Lankan/Dutch/German/Jewish ancestry. The work she produces is deeply personal as it refers to both sides of her heritage, both of which suffered deeply at the hands of colonialism. She is interested in challenging the colonial, capitalist, patriarchal society that we live in because of the trauma her own family suffered at its hands. The work explores a third space that is not South Asian, not European but somewhere in-between. She is very interested in the use of techniques that are seen as traditionally feminine or female in nature. She sees this as an exploration of the strength that women hold, and she uses them in order to challenge the viewer and their own perceptions of what it means to be feminine.
Shirani makes art work primarily in textiles using traditional techniques such as embroidery, punch needle, crochet, tufting, beading and mask making. The works are both large and small in scale, taking the form of tapestries, rugs, masks and clothing. She is particularly interested in domestic items and clothing exploring their use as artworks that can make a political statement whilst being disguised as everyday items. The use of bright colours and bold shapes are important within the work because they reference the aesthetics traditionally used in South Asian textiles and art works. Whilst these bright colours may have different connotations within European art, they are a common and important part of cultural heritage. Shirani specifically choose these colours as a way of decolonising her art practice.
Gallery
