Surplus Labour

(In progress)

An ongoing series consisting 35+ works, portrayed through mixed media and textiles.

The artist contrasts subaltern labour against the politics of power. This work relates to the hierarchies of artisanal production, urban-industrialisation and the ongoing exploitation of feminised labour.

Patriotism is considered through the Union Jack and Tricolour palettes, while the dominating effect of flag subordination is depicted through the monopoly of colour. Geometric shapes and symbols of the Russian avant-garde are used to portray the dynamic and restless nature of the industrial proletariat.

Worn female garments are obtained from the Indian working class and Dalit castes, alongside discarded scraps, to create rich metaphors and meanings about the devaluation of working class skill and labour.

The series uses Karl Marx's theory of alienation within the present day structures of neoliberal capitalism, as the artist aims to reclaim the value of her own labour. The series evolves into muted colours and golden hues, to reflect the sacred and experiential experience of making.