Let’s be Eco-Logical! Exhibition by ReRooted Residency artist Anita Agarwal.
Arbeit Studios is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition, You Let’s Be Eco-Logical, by the 3rd ReRooted Residency artist, Anita Agarwall.
Anita Agarwal is a multidisciplinary visual artist from India, currently based in London, working across various art practices to include; moving images, art performance, installation, text, sculpture, mark-making and Public Sphere.
Anita’s artwork is influenced by having travelled and lived in diverse cultures and geographies, as it explores the intersections and positions within cultures. She aims to include playfulness and humour in her work, allowing an audience to be at ease in areas that might be otherwise awkward to navigate. Her socially engaged practice investigates alternative models of participation and communication too, with a focus on being sustainable.
Anita trained in painting and sculpture at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, pursuit to acquire new tools led her to London, later graduating with distinction in Fine Arts Diploma from Chelsea College of Arts, UAL, and Masters in Contemporary Art Practice majoring in Public Sphere, 2021 from Royal College of Arts, London.
Following her four month long ReRooted Residency, to include artist-led workshops during this time, Anita has created work for both an indoor and outdoor exhibition. In the North Garden you can find an insect hotel ready for spring and wind chimes made from single-use plastic materials. In the Trowbridge Gardens Gallery there are flags inspired by the Buddhist Prayer flags found in the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal, a freestyle word graphic zine and a participatory wall drawing.
The event and exhibition is free to attend. During the opening event, there will be food made by Thingy Cafe.
The proposed plan to install flags, windchimes and an insect hotel to the north garden.
Meet the previous ReRooted Residency Creatives
‘ReRooted is an amazing opportunity and we both valued the experience, which was both challenging and rewarding.’ Rachel Attfield - ReRooted Residency Artist
The judges for the final round will be the previous ReRooted Residency Artists. Having experienced the residency programme, they will use their knowledge of the space to assist with selecting the next artist.
Jessy Harper-Solomon : Jessy was the first ReRooted Residency Artist (June to October 23). Using clay that was locally sourced, Jessy created a series of ceramic items for the garden and held workshops for the local community. The final exhibition, Wetlands, showcased various ceramic vessels and an opening event featuring pots and plates for dining.
‘In the garden, this work becomes a lens through which we can understand and engage with underground environments and soil health. The tactile vessels are understood in relation to the process that was required to create them. Overall, the outcome explores ways in which traditional craft practices can exist today and questions how they may change in a damaged and polluted environment, where soils are degraded, depleted and contaminated.’
Rachel and Ray Attfield : father and daughter creatives Rachel and Ray were the second ReRooted Residency Artists ( December 23 to March 24). Ray and Rachel collectively explored the transformational potential of natural materials, exploring how to give meaning to the ordinary, exploring our relationship to nature, particularly in urban environments. That wherever we are, we are part of not separate from nature.
Their final outcome in the garden, ‘You Can’t Make Trees’ began with a pile of wood and locally foraged plants, vines, leaves and stems that were available in the winter months, either foraged or donated by local gardening groups. Over the four-month residency Ray and Rachel considered the qualities of these different materials, particularly how they relate to our daily lives and cultural history.
This residency, artwork and programme of events has been made possible by the funding from LLDC’s 2022 Neighbourhood Priorities Fund.
If you have any questions, please contact: Gallery Curator: Hannah@Arbeit.org.uk