XII

Udaan XII is a sculpture made by using a saree worn by woman from Dayton, Ohio.  It shows the flight of this woman who moved from India to Dayton. This sculpture is mounted on Gatorboard procured through a Grant provided by The Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District.  I highlight the strength and resilience of the woman who wore this saree which is the fabric that is recycled to make this sculpture.  It is mounted on Gatorboard that is painted with acrylic which can be interpreted any way the viewer wants.  I showcase the path traversed by these incredible women and their contributions to our community here in Dayton, OH. 
One can interpret the flight as depicted in Udaan XII in a multitude ways. 

Many women all over the world take on challenges and rise to face them with the inner strength that could only come from the sheer will power they possess.  The Udaan series is a celebration of all those women.  

Udaan is a series of sculptures celebrating these incredible women, some of whom came on their own and some through marriage. However, they are proud of their heritage and flew to great heights in almost every field one can think of in Dayton, OH.  These sarees belong to teachers, lawyers, engineers, business women and doctors. Some of these women contribute much by their service as well as volunteering their time to the community here in Dayton. This series showcases the flight of these women to great heights, rising from the ground up only to fly. 

The sculptures are made by using recycled sarees worn by women from Dayton. 

A saree is a quintessential fabric of nearly six yards that is wrapped around a woman's body to adorn her.  In its simplicity it hides the histories, traditions and the workmanship of the people who created them.  The sculptures are my way of highlighting everything that is beautiful in this material and interpret it in a multitude ways to educate the world of the culture and traditions of India and the contributions made by the women of Dayton who wore them.  Some of the sarees used in this sculpture series are well over 5o years of age and some being over 100 years old.  I am so humbled and honored to represent these gently worn saree fabrics .  Some of the sarees are damaged and it is being restored by hand, sewn and sculpted into abstract shapes.  Through the sculptures, I hope that the viewer interprets them in their own way as I will be highlighting subtleties of societal issues wherever I can.  I expect the viewer to revel in the sheer beauty of the six yards of fabric that make up a saree. 

I hope you will enjoy my attempt in telling the stories in fabric depicted as a sculpture of these powerful, kind and generous women of Dayton who are role models and shine so bright with their understated elegance.