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Curated by Shamooda Amrelia and Alessia Riva
A ‘home’ is not merely a physical abode - its essence surpasses all materiality to permeate our being, signifying warmth, comfort, security, and a sense of belonging. But how does one ‘belong’ when this home exists as an imagined realm rather than a tangible space of being?
And where does this belonging reside?
Roots link us to our personal histories, connecting us to our ancestors, and shaping the way we inhabit the world. Transcending land, familial bonds, and the physical body encompass all that is immaterial and underground, hidden in liminal spaces within and around.
‘Beyond Belonging’ delves into a series of inquiries intimately intertwined within the personal and professional narratives of six practitioners. Having severed, by choice or necessity, their territorial, cultural, or spiritual roots they begin to plant new ones in the halls of Strangers House.
Originating from this yearning for a sense of belonging, a constellation of multifaceted narratives arises, conjuring up buried memories and marginalised histories. True to its name, the gallery becomes a haven of converging liminalities. Tales old and untold find a new meaning and voice; they take shape from these severed roots and then advance beyond, creating new entanglements, knots, relationships, conflicts, and attachments.
It reflects on the plurality of remembering, of coming together to create gestures, to continue the memory of what has transpired and what can be imagined. It re-imagines a world where disciplinary and temporal barriers dissolve, giving rise to a vibrant tapestry of diverse stories, memories, and struggles. A celebration of our shared history, our syncretic pasts, and the invisible forces that shape our collective identity.
‘Beyond Belonging’ brings together works by Fatema Halvadwala, Mohanjeet Grewal, Sabiha Dohadwala, Sana Ginwalla, Sem Nagas and Shameelah Khan.