Self Portrait

ARTIST STATEMENT

In this work, I reflect on the Hindu philosophy of Maya derived from the Sanskrit ma (‘not’) and ya (‘that’, that is ‘illusion’). Ancient Hindu texts purport that what one sees is true in itself, but untrue when compared to the absolute truth. Maya prompts me to pierce through the veil of illusion to find my true self, to pierce through the veil of my Indian-self in search of my identity. The shiny sequins are mirror-like and self-reflexive, and induce dream-like states of illusion. I have recreated myself from fragments of vintage saris belonging to my late mother. The sari dissected, transformed and reinvented reminds me of loss, and is a symbol of my Indian ancestry and evolving identity. I use my ancestor’s stitches to ‘pin down’ and capture my Self on fragile tulle.

My face is stitched together with fragments of saris and makes an ‘Indian’ face. The reverse of the self-portrait expresses a more nuanced, somewhat abstract form, and I find this a more comfortable reflection of my identity. My portrait, like identity itself, is in transition, unfixed and continually undergoing metamorphosis. I am surrounded by a myriad of western shoes, ‘cut outs’ from saris which together metaphorically express journey, class, caste, modernity, migration, mobility, and freedom.

information retrieved from: https://www.art.co.za/amitamakan/Amita-Makan-Nomalungelo-Catalogue.pdf