Presence of what; Absence of whom challenges the conventions of traditional portraiture using a variety of mediums, including cut paper, installation, collage, found objects, technology and video. 

Presence of what; Absence of whom interrogates and reimagines traditional portraiture by exploring identity through the lens of migration, gender, ritual, and memory. The installation draws deeply from the artist’s experience growing up in India and living in the United States as an immigrant for over two decades. It reflects on how identity is shaped and reshaped by geography, history, and the personal rituals of adornment and self-presentation. This work resists fixed definitions of self, instead celebrating the improvisational, fluid ways people—especially women—construct identity in today’s hybrid cultures.

A key conceptual thread in this body of work is the use of mythological stories from South Asia, particularly those centered on women and their relationships to textiles and clothing. Ancient epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana recount moments where garments become vessels of power, protection, shame, or defiance—Draupadi’s endless sari in a moment of divine intervention, or Gandhari’s saree becomes her blindfold. These narratives are deeply embedded in cultural memory and continue to shape contemporary ideas about femininity, purity, resilience, and agency. By referencing these stories, the artist connects past and present, myth and material, ritual and resistance.

Materiality plays a central role. Layers of cut paper, repurposed sarees, and hand-painted surfaces come together in 2D collages that push the boundary between image and object. These collages are not just visual compositions but tactile explorations—each layer a metaphor for memory, fragmentation, and reconstruction. Paper, fragile and impermanent, speaks to the ephemerality of life and the delicacy of memory, while textiles carry scent, texture, and history. Sarees in particular—passed down, repurposed, worn—become both canvas and content, evoking lineage, intimacy, and the weight of inheritance.

The spatial design of the installation is intentional and choreographic. Viewers will not passively observe but will move through a series of sculptural and visual experiences that require the use of their bodies. The layout guides them along a path, moving inward and outward, forward and around, in a sequence that mirrors ritual acts—circling, pausing, returning. This immersive physicality connects each visitor to the idea of presence, reflection, and choice, turning their movement through the space into a form of contemporary ritual. In doing so, the installation transforms portraiture into a lived, collective experience—where viewers become both witness and participant in a story much larger than their own.

This multi-sensory installation includes large-scale paper cut sculptures, soft sculptures created from repurposed sarees, and a video self-portrait. Visitors will move through an immersive environment where light, shadow, and form interact to challenge and redefine how we see the body and identity. Delicately cut paper forms will present stylized silhouettes of women adorned in clothing of their choice—ranging from sarees to jeans—each figure drawn from the stories of real immigrant women. The repurposed fabric sculptures will be knotted and draped, referencing traditional rituals like braiding and physical memory. A projected video installation will fragment and reassemble the artist’s body in motion, inviting viewers to question where identity resides: in the body, in clothing, or in ritual. 

Workshops, Panels, and Performances

Over 30 first- and second-generation immigrant women were invited to contribute to the project by submitting photographic self-portraits wearing clothing that reflects their identity. These are accompanied by in-depth conversations about their personal journeys, challenges, and evolving sense of self in an adopted homeland. The stories and images gathered will inform both the visual language and emotional tone of the work. Participants will be acknowledged not just as subjects, but as collaborators whose voices shape the installation. Additional community engagement includes informal workshops and performances of saree braiding and mono printing, offering opportunities for connection and reflection. 

Timeline & Development Plan (3-5 Months)

The project will unfold over a 3- 5 -month period if new work is created, the first two months will focus on community outreach and scheduling conversations with participants. Months 3–5 will involve image collection, interviews, and research, concurrently beginning the paper cut and fabric sculpture fabrication process. The final months will include site preparation, installation, lighting design, and community preview events. Regular updates and internal check-ins will ensure alignment with both community input and curatorial expectations. If no new work is created, the installation is ready to be installed within a month.

Presence of what; Absence of whom is designed to leave a lasting impact on both individual viewers and the broader community by transforming the exhibition space into an active site of reflection, connection, and participation. Through the use of textiles, paper, and immersive spatial design, the installation encourages audiences to explore their own identities and cultural narratives through the lens of clothing and ritual. By navigating the space with their bodies, visitors engage in a physical, almost meditative journey that mirrors the process of self-discovery and transformation.

The project extends its reach through intentional and inclusive community engagement. Artist talks provide insight into the personal, mythological, and material stories embedded in the work, while live performances of the fabric sculpture-making process highlight the ritual aspects of creation. Hands-on workshops offer participants the opportunity to learn the artist’s techniques and contribute their own stories and perspectives. These moments of shared experience allow the audience not just to observe but to participate—turning the installation into a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue, creative expression, and deeper understanding.

By centering the voices and experiences of immigrant women, and by grounding the work in both ancient mythology and contemporary lived experience, the installation offers a powerful, multidimensional platform for celebrating cultural hybridity, confronting stereotypes, and reimagining belonging. The impact of the project lies not only in the visual presence of the artwork but in the personal and communal conversations it sparks—conversations about who we are, what we carry, and how we honor the rituals that shape us.