South Asian artists redefine identity and expression with Auckland exhibition

An Auckland art exhibition titled "Kiss Taraf" showcases the works of five artists with Indian heritage who delve into the unique experiences and perspectives of being artists from South Asia.

Gitanjali Bhatt, Rhea Maheswari, Brunelle Dias and Tarika Sabherwal have joined forces with veteran artist Tiffany Singh to present an extraordinary exhibition at The Artpaper HQ.

"Kiss Taraf" in Hindi means "which direction" in English.

The five artists offer unique takes on the word "kiss" in their artworks, evoking an affectionate approach to the exploration of South Asian migrants' experiences in Aotearoa.

Meanwhile, "taraf" alludes to a departure, which prompts the question, "Which way?"

"We are a bunch of recent art school graduates who got together and wanted to really have a show that we could do whatever we wanted to do without anyone telling us how to express our identities," Bhatt says.

Bhatt, a recent graduate from the Whitecliff School of Fine Arts, focuses on reimagining landscapes using unconventional filming apparatuses.

Bhatt explores landscapes through absurdist filming tools in her artwork.

She collected industrial material from the South Island - such things as hubcaps that had fallen off wheels and pipes - and transformed them into sculptures and alternative filming apparatuses.

These were used to film famous spots historically favored by Bollywood films.

"I explored well-known tourist sites in the South Island and filmed them using my sculptures, offering a fresh perspective distinct from the typical dramatic portrayals found in nature documentaries," Bhatt says.

Dias says the show is not about where we're going, but "the fact that we're on this journey together".

The painter, who was born in India and moved to New Zealand at the age of 10, explores the relationship between figure and ground, both materially and conceptually, while also delving into themes of intimacy, sacredness and the connection between the past and present in everyday life.

Dias' paintings include representations of her family from different parts of the world, as well as her partner, who has German English heritage. She aims to create a blend of cross-cultural references reflecting her personal journey.

Maheswari arrived in New Zealand as a child with her family from Mumbai.

The Auckland-based artist primarily creates large-scale ornamental paintings that resemble tapestries.

For Maheswari, the exhibition represents her journey in New Zealand as she discovers authentic ways to express herself.

Breaking down the barriers

The artists believe that coming from a South Asian background brings its own set of challenges.

"We often get caught in the trap where others expect us to create artwork that conforms to stereotypical ideas about our identities as migrants," Bhatt says. "I want to break away from that and simply be just an artist."

Maheswari agrees, highlighting the challenges faced by artists who encounter resistance from both their families and the art world.

"There are so many things working against you, including family members who misunderstand our artistic pursuits," she says.

"You have to grapple with the feeling of being an outsider and make it a part of your life journey of creating art."

Bhatt is also aware of the financial challenges that artists face.

"It's very hard to be an artist in Aotearoa. There's no financial support from art that you can rely on and there is a lack of funding for art projects, especially for artists from South Asia," Bhatt says. "You often need multiple sources of income, such as second or third jobs. It's a real struggle."

The artists are hopeful the situation will improve.

Dias says the team is looking forward to its next two exhibitions in the series.

"The second one is planned for February or March next year, and we haven't announced a date for the third one yet," Dias says. "We're hoping to feature more South Asian artists in the upcoming exhibitions."