07.03.2019
Thursday we had a visit from artist Jasleen Kaur who's work focus's on identity politics and structural inequalities. Jasleen's practice is informed from inherited issues, a result of race or culture, whilst exploring personal histories of herself or others around her. 
Asking what is culture, and who benefits from cultural production? 
Jasleen explained that the word culture originates from agriculture, a word of hard work and labour. Culture is the everyday woman in her kitchen making a meal for her family that's been passed down from tradition, not necessarily an exhibit in the V&A that's labelled so. Culture is something people work at and try to keep alive. 
Jasleen went on to discuss a project she completed in 2010 where she wanted to transform the statue of Robert Napier, who fought in the first and second Anglo-Sikh war, by putting a turban over his helmet. As she was having trouble with getting permissions from the council and needed permission from the family, the direction of her work was took off course. She contacted the grandson of Robert Napier and instead of putting the turban on the statue, she asked if she could put one on himself. By wanting to tackle the power wealth empire of the men in statues in our cities, this had taken her to a direct descendent of someone who was of different ethnicities and cultures, but together, shared a piece of history. This turned into a more socially engaged practice and I would say a more successful one. They were able to share this intimate experience of her dad building the turban whilst they discussed their connections and the consequences of the war. 

I found this whole process fascinating and reassuring that even when something isn't going quite to plan, there's always an opportunity to create something remarkable.