Community Engagement: Sari Stories – Queens Park Library X The Offbeat Sari, The Design Museum
The Offbeat Sari curated by Priya Khanchandani is a vibrant celebration of the contemporary sari. The exhibition unravels the sari’s numerous forms, positioning it as a powerful metaphor for the layered and complex definitions of India today. Showcasing dozens of the finest saris from a plethora of designers, wearers and craftspeople, the exhibition debuted at the Design Museum in London and is now touring internationally.
The sari is integral to the daily lives, traditions and celebrations for the community of women who regularly meet at Queens Park Library to practice speaking English. The programme designed by Attia Shiraz supported community wellbeing and reducing isolation outside of the women’s normal routine. The library was used in an unconventional way to enhance a sense of belonging. The Design Museum were invited to the library to drape saris which helped to build a relationship and help overcome barriers to access local arts. Engaging with women highlighted their diasporic experiences through textiles and photography.
Whilst planning the programme, it was important to weave in considerations. Some women didn’t want their faces shown on the photographs. After discussions to overcome this, they brought solutions to photograph each other using books, fabrics, capturing their adorned hands with gold bangles and henna and angles to protect their identity. Secondly, it was important to allow them to choose cuisines they preferred for lunch. Oyster cards were funded and we travelled together on the bus, highlighting landmarks and street names so that they could visit the museum independently.
The Design Museum visited the community group at their safe space, Queens Park Library to participate in the first session. The group set up a photography studio, demonstrated draping technique with their silk saris and shared stories attached to each piece. The group and their nine yards of saris took over various spaces of the library. This just reaffirmed that the library belongs to the local community.
“I wear a sari every day. Being a mother with lots of things to do, makes me an expert in draping my sari very quickly. I drape the sari for women in my family. During the workshop, it felt great to drape the sari on people from other cultures.”
“Today I felt confident in my sari. Pink, green, yellow are often worn on the night of Henna parties where we celebrate the night before the wedding. The bride is
prepared with henna, oil, haldi (turmeric paste) for a glow. The night is beautiful with flowers and candles.”
“This sari was gifted by my brother-in-law when I arrived in London. I haven’t worn it for about twenty years. Today I wore it with me friends and felt great!”
On the second session, the Design Museum invited the community group to the museum for a free exhibition tour, block printing activity and lunch. This highlighted how the women are experts in textile knowledge of weaving, identifying traditions and origins. Including weaves of fabrics that are no longer available from regions of Bangladesh. These fabrics are gold dust in Queens Park! Younger women listened attentively to the ‘Aunties.’ The Offbeat Sari was a unique exhibition, a space where women saw themselves in strength, a celebration of their identity and textile traditions.
“Saris are vibrant. I find ways to combine colours that may not usually work together. Colour is celebrated through our saris. The embroidery design, styles or weaving are important to create beautiful saris for women.”
“There are a hundred ways of draping a sari. Each connects with traditions of a community. This is how I drape mine, just like my grandmother and her mother.”
The women were happy to see their portraits printed which they have kept. They set up the exhibition and a book display. They invited their friends, brought homemade foods to shared food and Chai Guys supplied endless masala chai.
“It was so enriching to see the way participants tapped into the spirit of The Offbeat Sari beyond the gallery by embodying the sari and depicting themselves so intentionally, both within the architecture of the library and immersed in their own visual backdrops. What an amazing celebration of textiles and community.”
– Priya Khanchandani, Curator of the Offbeat Sari
The ladies opened their small steel pots filled will pan to share after lunch.
Mohammed Adel (b.1997, London) is a London based painter. He intertwines Bengali and South Asian personal imagery into large scale paintings. Mohammed Adel kindly provided permission to reproduce a print of Untitled, 2021 to display at Queens Park Library and attended the celebratory community exhibition. This painting was chosen as the women could identify with the composition of family portraits and colourful patterns within the clothing and living room décor. Adel received his BA from Camberwell University of Arts London and is completing a postgraduate at The Royal Academy. Mohammed has exhibited at Brighton Art Festival (2023); twice at French Riviera Gallery, London (2022); Art Bypass Gallery, London (2022); The Factory Project, London (2021).
Blog by Attia Shiraz, Cultural Libraries Services Manager, Westminster City Libraries & Archives. Email: ashiraz@westminster.gov.uk
