South Asia Gallery - Manchester Museum

Rewind back to April 2022 I opened an email and had to re read it a few times to take it in.

A curator had emailed me asking whether I would be happy for an image to be exhibited.This was to be a part of a new gallery which was due to open at Manchester Museum when it reopens after a huge refurb.

Actually couldn’t believe a photo of mine had been selected to potentially be exhibited at Manchester Museum!

The print which they were reaching out for was one captured during Manchester International Festival (now knowns as Factory International) 2019 of sufi singer Abida Parveen.

Abida Parveen is one of the most renowned Pakistani Sufi singers of all time. Her soulful renditions of Sufi poetry and devotional music have captivated audiences around the world, and her impact on Pakistani culture cannot be overstated. It is therefore no surprise that her photograph has been chosen to be exhibited at the Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery in 2023.

The photograph has been displayed as part of the Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery, which showcases the cultural history and heritage of the Indian subcontinent. The gallery is home to a wide range of artifacts, from ancient pottery to contemporary art, and serves as a testament to the richness and diversity of South Asian culture.

I went by last week to visit the brand new refurbed museum and check out my work displayed (yowsers!) alongside so many other talented artist’s work.

The newly curated South Asia Gallery is the very first of it’s kind & it is actually a huge & very proud moment.To have a photograph curated and displayed as part of one of it’s kind is an incredible feeling.

The image has been licensed initially for 12 months so if you head to Manchester Museum at any point – do keep an eye out!