The Past is Calling

The exhibit The Past is Calling was created during my residency at Burrard Arts Foundation. The exhibition uses the symbol of the shoe to explore the complexities of caste—an ancient system of social hierarchy based on one’s birth. Shoes are historically associated with the lowest caste and also represent, for me, the marginalization and mistreatment of members of this group.

Juxtaposing urban and cultural signifiers, contemporary footwear and traditional jutti, The Past is Calling sheds light on the pervasiveness of caste discrimination and how its present-day impact extends to diasporic communities. The exhibition seeks to inspire new conversations around privilege, foster resilience and empathy, and encourage viewers to reflect on how they can contribute to dismantling oppressive structures.