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In the absence of permanent structures, home is contained in the memories and bonds shared between people and communities. Hema Shironi’s ‘Families ‘Not’ In the List’ is an ongoing inquiry that moves between memory and identity as she tries to find what meaning the home holds outside of its physical structure. The series arises from the frequent relocations of the artist’s family that were intertwined with socio political developments of Sri Lanka since the early 90’s, shaping the artist’s experiences of childhood. Hema Shironi employs the practice of needlework to thread through and across her reflections, recounting the many journeys, cultures and experiences that she assimilated as she moved from one place to another. Passed down along the matrilineal line, from mother to daughter, needlework brings in permanence and continuity that is otherwise absent in the subject of her enquiry.
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Hema ShironiOne Loan is Taken to Settle Another I, 2023Hand Embroidery on Printed Fabric and Collar Stiff41 x 22 cm
16 1/8 x 8 5/8 in -
Hema ShironiOne Loan is Taken to Settle Another II, 2023Hand Embroidery on Printed Fabric and Collar Stiff41 x 22 cm
16 1/8 x 8 5/8 in -
Hema ShironiOne Loan is Taken to Settle Another IV, 2023Hand Embroidery on Printed Fabric and Collar Stiff41 x 22 cm
16 1/8 x 8 5/8 in -
Hema ShironiOne Loan is Taken to Settle Another V, 2023Hand Embroidery on Printed Fabric and Collar Stiff41 x 22 cm
16 1/8 x 8 5/8 in
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Shironi recurrently uses grided structures and the embroidered foundations to mediate conversations on the structural aspects of a house. In works such as, ‘A Family Photo of Her Husband and Children’, family portraits comes across as an outline of the self. Sewn on green mesh that bears resemblance to structures used in construction, the portraits are inspired from photographs taken against the backdrop of houses constructed under welfare schemes. The work identifies the way in which developmental projects initiated with good intentions, more often than not fail to meet the immediate needs of communities. The artist also observes the way in which these projects enforce uniformity for the sake of convenience, diminishing the identity of the individual within these vibrant and eclectic communities.
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Hema ShironiA Family Photo of Her Husband and Children I, 2024Embroidery on Green Mesh and Canvas36 x 44 cm
14 1/8 x 17 3/8 in -
Hema ShironiA Family Photo of Her Husband and Children II, 2024Embroidery on Green Mesh and Canvas36 x 44 cm
14 1/8 x 17 3/8 in -
Hema ShironiA Family Photo of Her Husband and Children III, 2024Embroidery on Green Mesh and Canvas36 x 44 cm
14 1/8 x 17 3/8 in -
Hema ShironiA Family Photo of Her Husband and Children IV, 2024Embroidery on Green Mesh and Canvas36 x 44 cm
14 1/8 x 17 3/8 in
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The series, The Lord Your God Is With You, delves into the profound conviction held by individuals from diverse communities as they undertake journeys across countries and continents. This hope for a better, more beautiful future is conveyed through patterned fabrics featuring varied threads, motifs, and weaving techniques. These elements not only reference the different geographies and cultures to which people belong but also subtly nod to the vibrant decorations that embellish vehicles in the South Asian region.
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Hema ShironiThe Lord Your God is with You I, 2024Patch Work and Appliqué on Canvas93 x 74 cm
36 5/8 x 29 1/8 in -
Hema ShironiThe Lord Your God is with You II, 2024Patch Work and Appliqué on Canvas93 x 74 cm
36 5/8 x 29 1/8 in -
Hema ShironiThe Lord Your God is with You III, 2024Patch Work and Appliqué on Canvas93 x 74 cm
36 5/8 x 29 1/8 in
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In ‘Jewels of Forgotten Memories', old jewellery boxes which once housed family heirlooms are repurposed to encase fond memories of childhood. The nimble-size of the photographs are, gently punctured to trace the solid outline of homes, expressing a frailty when held in one’s hand.
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Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories I, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box2 x 6.5 cm (closed)
3/4 x 2 1/2 in (closed) -
Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories II, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box2 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm (closed)
3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in (closed) -
Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories III, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box2 x 4.5 x 4.5 cm (closed)
3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 in (closed) -
Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories IV, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box3 x 9.5 x 9 cm (closed)
1 1/8 x 3 3/4 x 3 1/2 in (closed)
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Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories VI, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box2.5 x 6 cm (closed)
1 x 2 3/8 in (closed) -
Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories V, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box2.5 x 5.5 x 4 cm (closed)
1 x 2 1/8 x 1 5/8 in (closed) -
Hema ShironiJewels of Forgotten Memories VII, 2023Hand Stitched with Thread on Photograph, and Jewellery Box3 x 6 x 5 cm (closed)
1 1/8 x 2 3/8 x 2 in (closed)
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The soft quality of blankets in these works evoke tender memories of childhood. While the same quality of comfort is juxtaposed with incisive political commentary. In ‘Lion is called the “King of the Jungle”’, the artist exchanges the colours of the Sri Lankan flag to create alternate arrangements, and in the process flips how different ethnic and religious minorities are represented on the national flag. Although imbued with a childlike playfulness, it offers a political reimagination that aspires for communal harmony in the distant future.
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Hema ShironiIf You Rent You Don’t Own I, 2023Embroidery on Fabric and Iron Mesh16 x 26 cm
6 1/4 x 10 1/4 in -
Hema ShironiIf You Rent You Don’t Own II, 2023Embroidery on Fabric and Iron Mesh16 x 26 cm
6 1/4 x 10 1/4 in -
Hema ShironiIf You Rent You Don’t Own III, 2023Embroidery on Fabric and Iron Mesh16 x 26 cm
6 1/4 x 10 1/4 in -
Hema ShironiIf You Rent You Don’t Own IV, 2023Embroidery on Fabric and Iron Mesh16 x 26 cm
6 1/4 x 10 1/4 in
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FAMILIES 'NOT' IN THE LIST: Hema Shironi
Past viewing_room
