Suchitra Mattai is about to make new history for herself and the world
SUCHITRA MATTAI: WEAVING HISTORY AND HERITAGE
Suchitra Mattai, a renowned artist, began her journey of historical exploration as a high school student in Metuchen, New Jersey. Confronted with a Eurocentric World History curriculum, she recognized a glaring omission of global perspectives, particularly those of non-Western cultures. This early experience ignited a lifelong passion to bridge these historical gaps.
Born in Guyana to Indian-heritage parents, Mattai’s family’s move to Canada further exposed her to the limitations of conventional education. While schools predominantly focused on European and American history, her family’s rich Indian heritage offered a contrasting narrative. Inspired by her great-grandparents’ homeland, she vowed to fill the voids left by traditional education.
Mattai’s artistic practice reflects this commitment to historical and cultural exploration. Her works, often large-scale tapestries, incorporate vintage saris, fabric, embroidery floss, needlepoints, beads, videos, and found objects. These elements intertwine to explore themes of gender, labor, migration, colonialism, and identity.
Hannah Shambroom, an assistant curator at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, praises Mattai’s innovative approach: “She is building upon centuries-old techniques while forging her own path. Her large-scale tapestries and use of vintage materials are truly unique.”
Mattai emphasizes the power of oral and material history in storytelling. The saris she employs carry the embodied stories of their previous owners, connecting past and present.
One such work, “Siren Song” (2022), currently on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, is a striking example of Mattai’s artistic vision. This immersive installation features vintage saris and fabric, with a projected video of the Atlantic Ocean on the ceiling. The tapestries create a womb-like space, symbolizing the journey of Mattai’s ancestors who migrated from India to Guyana as indentured laborers in the 19th century.
By blending traditional and contemporary techniques, Mattai’s art not only celebrates her heritage but also challenges conventional historical narratives. Her work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diverse perspectives and the enduring power of art to connect past, present, and future.
Suchitra Mattai: Weaving a New Tapestry of History
Suchitra Mattai, a contemporary artist, embarked on a poignant journey that mirrored her ancestors’ migration from India to Brazil. This voyage across the vast ocean, a path likely trodden by her forefathers, left a profound impact on her. The vastness of the water and the growing distance from the past evoked a powerful energy, shaping her artistic vision.
Mattai’s current exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., showcases 40 of her large-scale textile installations and mixed-media works. This exhibition is a testament to her commitment to reimagining history and challenging conventional narratives. By juxtaposing her work with art from South Asia and Europe spanning the 18th to 20th centuries, Mattai aims to create new connections and contextualize her art within a broader historical framework.
This innovative curatorial approach allows for unexpected dialogues between Indian miniature paintings and sculptures by renowned artists like Louise Bourgeois. By blurring the lines between historical periods and geographical boundaries, Mattai invites viewers to question established notions of art history and culture.
Through her art, Mattai seeks to “undo what we know” and construct a space where unconventional connections can emerge. Her work serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of human history and the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping our understanding of the past.
Suchitra Mattai: A Tapestry of Resilience and Heritage
Suchitra Mattai, a renowned artist, traces her roots to Guyana, where she was born in 1973. At the tender age of three and a half, she embarked on a journey with her family to Canada, seeking new opportunities. Her father’s pursuit of higher education led them to Nova Scotia and Halifax, before ultimately settling in the United States when Mattai was ten.
In her late teens, a desire to connect with her Indian heritage ignited her interest in South Asian art. Though she harbored a lifelong dream of becoming an artist, societal expectations and family pressures initially steered her towards a more conventional path. She enrolled at Rutgers University, majoring in statistics, while simultaneously pursuing her passion for art.
However, the weight of societal norms and the lack of visible role models hindered her artistic aspirations. The absence of artists of color in museums and galleries during her youth reinforced the perception that art was an unattainable career. Undeterred, Mattai pursued a PhD in South Asian studies at the University of Pennsylvania, hoping to delve deeper into the field and create space for diverse voices.
After realizing that academia was not her true calling, she made a bold decision to leave the program and embrace her lifelong passion for art. This marked a pivotal moment in her career, as she transitioned from a painter to a multidisciplinary artist incorporating textiles, embroidery, and weaving into her work.
Initially, her experiments with embroidery were met with resistance, leading to a period of creative introspection. However, a transformative shift occurred eight years ago when she decided to break free from Western artistic traditions and embrace the intuitive approach of her family. Inspired by the textile techniques she learned from her grandmothers, Mattai began creating works that celebrate the resilience and domestic roles of women.
By incorporating found objects and vintage saris, she pays homage to her ancestral homeland and the women who have shaped its history. Her art serves as a powerful medium to honor the untold stories of women, particularly those from marginalized communities.
In 2018, Suchitra Mattai’s artistic prowess was recognized on a global stage when she was commissioned to create her largest installation to date for the Sharjah Biennial in the United Arab Emirates. This ambitious project featured large-scale sari tapestries, a thought-provoking video of border walls, and a nostalgic vintage merry-go-round.
Mattai’s commitment to large-scale installations continues with works like “she arose (from a pool of tears)” (2024), currently on display in her D.C. exhibition. Inspired by her family’s passion for dance, particularly her sisters, this life-size sculpture pays homage to Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form. The figure is captured in a transitional moment, poised between tradition and innovation, reflecting Mattai’s own artistic journey.
The exhibition also showcases the site-specific installation, “a yakshi trance II” (2024). This captivating work features plaster and salt casts of antique Indian yakshis, figures associated with fertility and prosperity. By wrapping these ancient forms around the museum’s columns, Mattai creates a dialogue between past and present, tradition and contemporary art.
Through her innovative use of materials, bold scale, and evocative imagery, Suchitra Mattai continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art. Her work offers a fresh perspective on history, culture, and identity, inviting viewers to explore the intricate connections between the past, present, and future.
