Iridescent Threads

About

Iridescent Threads is an exhibition by queer artists, Usva Inei and Imogen Patel, that celebrates cultural heritage while acknowledging and exploring its political complexities. By bringing together different cultural backgrounds, Indian and Russian, the artists hope to address the beauty of multicultural contexts alongside the difficulties that immigrants face in bringing together different, potentially conflicting identities. The exhibition space fuses Indian and Russian heritage through textiles and cultural motifs, as both artists use fabric in their work to reclaim their identities and honour their roots.

About the artists:

Usva Inei (@usva.inei)

Usva Inei is a trans non-binary Russian artist and art educator who mainly works through various forms of printmaking. Stemming from their lived experiences as a first generation immigrant, Usva modifies, reimagines, and reclaims traditional Russian imagery and patterns by bringing in elements of anti-war and pro-LGBTQ+ protest. Through their artwork, Usva hopes to consolidate a desire to connect with one’s heritage with a fight against a government that does not respect human rights, allow freedom of speech, or acknowledge LGBTQ+ identities.

Imogen Patel (@imogensart1999)

Imogen Patel, currently based in London, is a multidisciplinary artist born in Hertfordshire. Her work draws on themes related to race and identity, by exploring her placement as a British-Asian woman in a post-colonial Britain. She explores the layers of her heritage by combining elements of Sari, Indian motifs, and scenery from both urban and rural locations that hold significance in Imogen's memory.