Faculty of Art

Photography

Zain Bhanapatel

to the women who came before me, may we meet again

With this installation, I offer an homage to the resiliency of my lineage, reflecting upon the journeys of the women who preceded me. In the tapestry of my ancestral narrative, woven over nearly a century of grappling with the shadows of colonialism in my homeland, these works stand as a testament to the unwavering resilience and defiant resistance of the women who paved the way for the life I am free to live now. The embrace of this visual symphony transcends a history rooted in intergenerational trauma and oppression, choosing to illuminate the luminous threads of joy and connectivity binding the women of my family. My very existence is a testament to their boundless love and unyielding strength. Curated to mirror the sanctity of the haven the women in my life have always provided for me, I extend an invitation to immerse oneself in an experience — one that evokes shared sentiments of security, safety, and compassion. Feel the echoes of love, the resonance of struggle, and the pulse of strength embedded in every aspect. Each object, a tangible relic, bears the imprints of my familial heritage, a deliberate act of authenticity that intertwines my roots with the very fabric of this setting. In this space, my family, culture, and personal history converge, inviting you to traverse the delicate interplay between memory and artistry. to the women who came before me, may we meet again is an ode to the undying spirit of womanhood, a fond remembrance of the lasting legacy of my bloodline, and an invitation to gather together in the timeless dance of shared humanity.