Chanda’s Kantha folds have the past written into them. Made from vintage fabrics, the material holds the worlds of others. Unpicked, flattened and reconfigured, the new geometries expose the fabric’s multiple layers and years of wear. Chanda’s work builds bridges between lived, imagined and past worlds, sensitising the viewer to the proximity of all.
Sayan Chanda (b. 1989, Kolkata, India. Lives and works in London) deploys textile and ceramic techniques in an exploration of indigenous votive and ritual objects. Whether weaving, using found textiles or clay, Chanda creates ambiguous forms that, evocative of talismans, transcend everyday materiality. The pieces channel the artist’s past experiences and in referencing mythological traditions are imbued with majesty.
Dr. Cleo Roberts-Komireddi