‘Nalini’ explores the connected histories of Arpita Shah, her mother and her grandmother, spanning India, East Africa and the UK. The exhibition explores the artist’s past through her maternal lineage and how migration, distance and loss have shaped their lives, featuring discoveries of old forgotten family photographs, and shared and individual memories of objects, places, and family stories.
John Mair, Monument Manager for Duff House at HES, said:
We’re thrilled to be welcoming the works of Arpita Shah. The themes of migration and heritage, in both a wider global and individual sense, are close to the heart of HES.
We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy this fascinating exhibition within the historic setting of Duff House.”
Malcolm Dickson, Director at Street Level said: “Nalini is a powerful photographic testament to Arpita Shah’s triangular journey through her maternal family lineage - an imprint, as Shah states, of the imperial routes of migration that tie Scotland, India and Kenya together. Executed with great sensitivity and attention to detail, this story feels more strongly amplified in its display by Historic Environment Scotland in the baroque surroundings of Duff House. In the context of Scotland’s self-examination of its inextricable links with colonialism, it somehow makes an already profound body of work, more resonant and more enriching because of that.”
Arpita Shah is a photographic artist who spent the earlier part of her life living between India, Ireland and the Middle East before settling in the UK. Graduating from Napier University in Edinburgh in 2006, she is now based in Eastbourne.
‘Nalini’ will be displayed at the Long Gallery at Duff House on selected dates from Friday 12 April – Sunday 14 July 2024.
Entry to the exhibition is included in admission to Duff House. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the Historic Environment Scotland website.
In addition to the exhibition, on Saturday 4 May Arpita Shah will be in-conversation with Catriona McAra, Art Historian at the University of Aberdeen. Hosted in Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen, this intergenerational event seeks to explore the figure of the grandmother through the medium of photography and the inherited object. The joys and challenges of creative parenthood will also be investigated as a feminist pursuit, as will the post-colonial subject matter of Shah’s practice, challenging the lack of visibility of women of colour as ‘Muses’ in Western art history.
The talk is presented in association with Historic Environment Scotland and the University of Aberdeen. It is free and no booking is required, further information can be found on the Historic Environment Scotland website.
About Duff House
Duff House is a masterpiece of baroque architecture and one of the most important buildings in the north of Scotland. It was designed in 1735 by the renowned Scottish architect William Adam and is now a five-star visitor attraction, run in partnership by Historic Environment Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
- View our press pack and keep up to date by registering to receive our media releases. Already registered? You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link, included in every email.
Follow HES
X: @HistEnvScot | @welovehistory
Facebook: @HistoricEnvScotland | @VisitHistoricScotland
Instagram: @HistEnvScot | @historicscotland
Blog
LinkedIn
For further information, please contact:
Laura Ely
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot