Priya Kambli
2023 Aurora + Herron Residency
August 7-18, 2023
2023 Aurora + Herron Resident Priya Kambli will spend the two weeks of her residency in the Herron darkrooms creating large-scale prints for two series, An Inventory of the Objects of Mourning and Objects of Mourning: Still-Life. To make these prints, the artist combines the use of two photographic processes, photogram and lumen, which abstracts the objects into their contour lines and shapes.
Both An Inventory of the Objects of Mourning and Objects of Mourning: Still-Life are from the artists’s larger, ongoing project, Devhara, about which Kambli writes:
Devhara (which loosely translates to “house of idols” in my native language of Marathi) is a multi-disciplinary body of work that weaves together three generations of women: my mother, my daughter, and myself. And it grapples with how my work can or should reflect my migrant identity. I investigate these topics through my mother’s objects of worship, which are imbued with political realities and tangible memories and which to me have become objects of mourning. I explore the resonance of these items from my mother’s home altar as significant forms while inserting our bodies (my daughter’s and mine) to create abstract images/meditations/visual prayers. This body of work continues my effort to think about themes of identity, migration, and loss as catalysts for dialogue and the forging of cross-cultural understanding as well as its reflection on the broader cultural context.
Kambli plans to take advantage of her two weeks in the Herron darkrooms for experimentation and concentrated work on several prints and new compositions for each series. After the residency period, Kambli will give a virtual public talk about her practice.
Kambli’s work inadvertently examines the question asked by her son Kavi at age three; did she belong to two different worlds, since she spoke two different languages? The essence of his question continues to be a driving force in her art making. In her work, Kambli strives to understand the formation and erasure of identity that is an inevitable part of the migrant experience. Kambli’s artwork has been well received, having been exhibited, published, collected and reviewed in the national and international photographic community. She was the winner of the inaugural Creator Labs Photo Fund by Aperture and Google, and The Magenta Foundation’s Un-Stuck grant. The success of Kambli’s work underlines the fact that she is engaged in an important dialogue, and reinforces her intent to make work driven by a growing awareness of the importance of many voices from diverse perspectives and the political relevance of our private struggles.
Priya Kambli (priyakambli.com) received her BFA at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and an MFA from the University of Houston. She is currently Professor of Art at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. She also serves on the Board of Society for Photographic Education.
The Aurora + Herron Residency, a collaboration between Aurora PhotoCenter and Herron School of Art and Design/IUPUI, offers a two-week intensive work period in the Herron darkroom facility and studios for development of new or ongoing projects. One Aurora + Herron Residency was awarded in 2023. The residency includes: a $2,000 stipend, darkroom access with basic chemistry supplied, onsite darkroom and studio support by Herron Photography Technician Benjamin Martinkus, and a place to stay.
The Aurora + Herron Residency would not be possible without the following partnerships.
Herron School of Art + Design will supply darkroom access, basic chemistry, and onsite support during the residency. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Herron School of Art + Design for its generous support of this residency.
Pending scheduling, Tube Factory Artspace will donate lodging for this residency in their artist bed and breakfast located on Cruft Street in the Garfield Park area of Indianapolis. Aurora PhotoCenter thanks Tube Factory Artspace for its generous support of this residency.
