Younity Mural Reveal

Had a fantastic time meeting everyone and putting up the Younity Mural banners with Lindsay at the Grainger Market last Friday!

Thanks to all who came out to see them! If you haven’t seen them yet, the banners will be on display for a couple of weeks and during The Late Shows next weekend. Take a look at the photos below to see the banners and the list of co-artists displayed on vinyl by the balcony.

Each banner represents a core theme discussed in the participatory workshops: Freedom (Orange), Compassion (Green), Growth (Blue), and Connection (Yellow). Over five workshops, co-artists and contributors generously shared their thoughts, ideas, and artwork for the Younity Mural Project. These contributions were then carefully compiled and designed into the banners over a course of a few days in my studio. Yes, the process was hard…Lots of coffee was drank.

A total of twenty A3-sized vinyl prints are displayed across the city centre: Grainger Market, Centre for Life, Princes Trust, Shelter North East, Chinatown, British Heart Foundation, Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle Castle and Newcastle Helix at the Core.

A huge thank you to all the incredible contributors and co-artists whose work made this possible! It’s been amazing to see connections across different organisations and groups for this. Please share your photos on social media using #YounityMural.

To see more about the project and see the artists individual works visit http://www.younitymural.co.uk

Deaf Awareness North East

North Tyneside Art Studios 2. Wallsend.

Deaf Awareness Office at Linkskill Centre, North Tyneside

ID: First image shows glass building decorated with different artworks with a display banner and large open space with tables inside. Second image shows a white sign on a beige brick wall saying ‘Room 6. Deaf Awareness NE’

Had a great meeting today with the lovely group at Deaf Awareness with Derek and have organised more workshops for participatory artwork.

Last year definitely threw everything for a loop with the loss of my dad. Happy to be creating / doing more inclusive work and sowing seeds for future projects breaking barriers.

Cyanotypes on Glass

Visited the new(ish) studio by Incubate Printmaking today in Ouseburn to do a session on cyanotype printing on glass with Nick

Cyanotype has always had a otherworldly aesthetic with elements of nostalgia, connected to the earliest forms of the photographic process form the 1840s. Although I love my Canon and my graphic design work, I’m drawn to exploring more traditional methods lately. Although I’d explored cyanotypes at Uni in Edinburgh, it was a fair few years ago ! and I enjoyed this session with Nick brushing off the cobwebs.

Image Description: Six small images are displayed. From top left to right: 1. The blue building of Cobalt Studios in Ouseburn with large wooden doors. 2. Nick Christie instructing on the ‘cooking’ for a solution with cyanotypes involving gelatin. 3. Third Eyed Man image on small pane of glass against fluorescent light box. 4. Cyanotypes of snake image side by side, the navy one processed with fresh coffee. 5. Square cyanotype of the moon by Nick printed on glass. 6. Exposed paper in green tones and ghost images, before the washing process begins.

For the cyanotypes I decided to use two images that were ink drawings I doodled back in lockdown. The larger pieces of glass was printed with the image of peonies with snakes entwined around the blooms. Snakes are complex creatures, depicted both as dangers and deities in the Indus region. The fear of snakebites can translate to anxieties depicted in murals or sculptures, while revered serpents like Shesha, the cosmic snake, symbolize transformation and healing. Serpents often represent intrusive thoughts or primal fears, but their shed skin signifies renewal, hinting at the possibility of overcoming mental struggles. Cyanotypes were also created on paper, a darker navy effect was obtained with a coffee solution. The second image which was printed onto the smaller glass in the image is probably more typical of the graphic design style I have nowadays, with a third eyed figure seated on clouds.

I’ll be expanding my workflow now from solely focusing on the digital realm of graphic design to the tactile world of printmaking and painting. Expect more traditional processes in the next few months.

5 Places of South Asian Heritage in North East England

Delve into the rich narratives, traditions, and legacies of South Asian communities woven into the fabric of this diverse corner of England.

5 Places of South Asian Heritage in North East England

Holi Vibes and Colourful Spring Creations

Workshops with GemArts

This past Saturday, I had the most delightful experience at the Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art facilitating a Holi workshop for GemArts! The day was filled with vibrant colours, creative exploration, and the wonderful spirit of Holi, the Indian festival of colours.

The workshop centred around creating Rangoli patterns, those beautiful floor art designs are traditionally made with coloured powders. We used watercolours, specialist stencils, stamps, colourful pens, and pencils to bring these patterns to life on paper. The atmosphere was buzzing with creativity, and it was fantastic to see everyone’s unique interpretations take shape.

As we were engrossed in our creations, a burst of colour caught my eye out the window. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for – the fantastic display of colour throwing for the Holi celebrations! Witnessing the joyous explosion of colour from afar perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the festival – a celebration of spring, new beginnings, and the triumph of good over evil.

The staff at the Baltic Centre deserve a special mention for making the workshop such a positive experience. They were incredibly friendly and helpful, always there to change the paint water and cut my watercolour paper to size before I started- a small gesture that made a big difference!

This wasn’t my only recent art adventure! Last week, I had the pleasure of leading workshops at Balliol Primary School with year 5 and 6 students. We embraced the arrival of spring by creating mindful rangoli art using recycled papers and colourful flowers. The children were full of enthusiasm, and it was inspiring to see their creativity blossom as they experimented with different techniques and colours.

Both these experiences served as wonderful reminders of the power of art to bring people together, foster creativity, and celebrate the beauty of the world around us. If you’re looking for an opportunity to unleash your inner artist and connect with your community, be sure to keep an eye out for workshops this spring. You might just surprise yourself with what you can create!

Balliol Primary School. Student drawing rangoli with dual tipped colourful pens

Worksheets for Balliol Primary School for Holi

Balliol Primary School student drawing rangoli with pens

Holi workshop room at BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art with relaxed pink lighting and round tables.

Coffee, Cake, and Critique: Adventures in Artistic Mentorship

With Pink Collar Gallery.

Being an artistic mentor is a privilege. It’s a chance to share not just technical skills, but also the joys, struggles, and unexpected detours of a creative life. Recently, I had the pleasure of venturing on these detours with a fantastic mentee, Sullivan Alenzi aka. Odd.Gospels

Our first meeting unfolded over steaming mugs of coffee. We delved into Sullivan’s current project, a series of mixed digital pieces exploring Middle Eastern culture and mythologies. His excitement was infectious, and we spent a good hour dissecting cultures, language, and the deeper messages he wanted to convey. It’s these conversations, where raw artistic vision meets experienced critique, that I find most rewarding.

For our second session, we decided to ditch Newcastle city centre and explore the vibrant Ouseburn Valley, a haven for creatives. Our first stop? The Biscuit Factory, a sprawling complex housing studios, galleries, and a café with the most delectable cakes this side of the Tyne Bridge.

As we wandered through the exhibitions, Sullivan peppered me with questions. It was a joy to see his curiosity sparked by the diverse styles and mediums. But the conversation also turned personal. Being an artist of colour and queer in the North East of England comes with its own set of challenges. I shared some of my experiences, both positive and negative, hoping to offer Sullivan a glimpse into the local art scene and the importance of finding his own voice within it.

The afternoon continued with a stroll alongside the Ouseburn, taking in the ever-changing street art and graffiti. It was a beautiful reminder that art exists everywhere, not just within the confines of galleries.

By the end of the day, Sullivan wasn’t just brimming with new artistic ideas, but also a newfound confidence. This is, in essence, the essence of artistic mentorship: to empower, encourage, and guide another creative soul on their artistic journey.

So, if you’re considering becoming a mentor, I urge you to take the leap. You might be surprised by how much you learn from your mentee, and the joy of witnessing their artistic growth is a truly special reward.

Article for Axis: Barriers and Ethnic Representation

I was commissioned by Axis to write an article about artist exploitation. You can read it here

It discusses some of the key issues below.

The North of England has historically had fewer art institutions and resources compared to London. So it’s harder finding opportunities that are available in the South. This leads to Limited funding and resources: Grants and funding opportunities are less accessible, hindering the ability to create new work or showcase it at major exhibitions. Ultimately this means Lack of Representation. The art world has traditionally been dominated by white males, both historically and in positions of power today (curators, gallery owners, critics). This lack of representation can make it difficult for to see a path to success or see the work as being valued.

However, there are also positive developments. There’s a growing awareness of the need for diversity in the arts, leading to initiatives that specifically support women from diverse backgrounds. I hope with alternative spaces, lots of perseverance and the emergence of new support structures, that sustainable success is achievable.

Have a read of the article, which has an audio version (Which I voice myself) that you can listen to on SoundCloud.

Younity Project Update

I’ve been working hard managing a project as lead artist for the Younity project with Helix Arts and Creative Central:NCL. This is my first time managing multiple inboxes since I worked at Curious Arts so I’m glad to be working alongside Lindsay Nicholson who’s been fantastic with the facilitation.

The co-artists artwork can now be viewed online!

There were over seventy contributions towards the Younity mural through idea sharing, doodles and submitting artwork. I honestly wish I could do this work forever. I loved meeting all the different people who attended and watching them create their art based on Newcastle and the cultural zone. I was told by an artist who attended one of the workshops that it was the most diverse event he’d ever been to.

To summarise the co-creating and art :

• The artworks consist of artwork submitted in person or by email.
• Each artwork lists the artist, title of their work, and an image description to provide textual access to the visual content.
• Some artworks include ‘In the artist’s words’ section where they have chosen to add more detail.
• Each artwork came from one of five workshops held across three venues and varying times for accessibility during February 2024. Co-artists were given more time to complete their artwork at home after the workshops if they wanted.
• Co-artists came from varying backgrounds, ages and experiences allowing different diverse groups to create together.

You can view the artworks before I start creating the MASSIVE mural inspired by them all on http://www.younitymural.co.uk and click on Artworks on the top banner.

Here’s a few photos from the workshops!

Image Descriptions of workshop photos above: Top row from left to right. 1. Image of different banners with words brainstorming the meaning of ‘Unity’ from three previous workshops, displayed across a large window with light shining through. 2. Image of a workshop with people gathered around a circular table with art supplies. 3. Image of people discussing and creating across a rectangular table during the day time with lots of windows in the background. 4. Image of artist creating on a table with colour tests, with cup of tea and lots of materials. Bottom row from left to right. 5. Image of three large circular tables with lots of people creating together. 6. Image of people in a boardroom with a colourful presentation being projected onto a wall on the left. A flip chart is visible in the background next to a person walking with a camera. 7. People gathered around a rectangular table in the evening busy creating artwork. 8. A colourful table filled with pens, with artist drawing flowers alongside image references.

Holi Festival of Colour

Join me for Holi Festival of Colours with GemArts hosted in partnership with Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art creating beautiful rangoli. Celebrate the spring, love & new life with creative workshops, henna stations, dance, music & food.

Put it in diary! Saturday 30th March

12pm – 4pm

Free/Booking here: gemarts.org/whatson

Historic England: South Asian History in the North East

I was commissioned by Historic England very recently to write a blog on South Asian history in the North East of England. As a third generation Punjabi I was very passionate about this, aware that there’s less known up North. I explored some locations in the North East connected to South Asian heritage.

My previous work for the Narivad project touched on some South Asian History, namely the ethnic minority women who helped shape women’s rights today. My work for the metro also mentions and has an illustration of Hari Shukla.

Read the blog, and delve into the rich narratives, traditions, and legacies of South Asian communities woven into the fabric of this diverse corner of England. https://bit.ly/SouthAsianHeritageNorthEast