Art Of Expression - Artistic Journeys Of Self-Discovery And Connection

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the relationship between mental wellness, spirituality, creative expression from the female perspective in today's society. Presented by, ForwardCulture and Without Shape Without Form, the evening will feature inspirational points of view by Sikh female creatives followed by an interactive discussion. Accompanying the event will be a pop-up exhibition connected to ‘Journey of the Mind’ at New Art Exchange (28 Jan-22 Apr 2023).

Exhibition 4pm – 5.30pm

Panel discussion 6pm – 8.30pm

Age Guidance: 12+

Recommended price: £10

Panellists:

Roo Dhissou

Roo Dhissou is an artist and doctoral researcher who works with communities, diasporas and her own histories. Using socially engaged practice, craft, cooking, performance and installation she explores how communal and individual identities are formed.

Roo has shown work at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, New Art Gallery Walsall and The Blucoat in Liverpool. She is working on a practice-based PhD fully funded by AHRC UKRI. Her title is, Cultural Dysphoria: exploring British Asian women artists’ experiences through arts practices. Roo is the recipient of several awards, most notably the Tate Liverpool artist award 2020.

Roo is interested in multiplicity in culture, belonging and home. She works across mediums and practices, through community, hospitality and service. These are Sikh values, Punjabi values and societal morals too. The English translations do no justice. How can Sangat and Seva ever be quantified in the language of the coloniser?

Baljinder Kaur

Baljinder Kaur is an Illustrator who is interested in the power of visual storytelling and how it can connect us, beyond the barriers of language or culture. Last year, she graduated from Cambridge School of Art with a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration. She occasionally teaches BA illustration and is a part-time youth worker, but spends most of her time juggling between picture-book projects, drawing and being a cat-mom.  

Deep Kailey

Deep Kailey is a London-based multidisciplinary Artistic and Creative Director. Known for her forward-thinking, unique and progressive narratives for audiences worldwide. Through exhibitions, editorials, films and brand development.

The former Fashion Director of Tatler (UK) and Fashion Editor of Vogue India (London), now creates a global visual language and storytelling strategies for brands, as an international and leading luxury market professional, through her company, Deep. She is an expert in image creation and direction, magazine launches, the fashion business and creative consultancy. She gained her experience in publishing, design, art, culture and the high-end luxury market sector.

In addition, she is the Artistic Director for the arts organisation Without Shape Without Form (WSWF). From its inception, Deep has headed this volunteer-led organisation, which bridges the gap between art, spirituality and mental health through the lens of the Sikh teachings and brings history into a contemporary context. WSWF goes beyond cultural, racial and religious boundaries to leave a community legacy in all that it does, for the betterment of all who encounter its work.

Deep plays both a strategic and creative role to establish this Arts Council England supported organisation, as the UKs leading spiritual art space dedicated to mental wellbeing. She develops disruptive exhibition models and leads with a collaborative approach, with a network of partners nationally and internationally.

Prior engagements include Dazed and Managing Director to Kim Jones (Artistic Director of menswear Dior and womenswear Fendi). Styling the likes of Anya Taylor Joy, Sophie Turner, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Kim Kardashion and Hailey Beiber. Artistic collaborations with the likes of Arnolfini, Ikon Gallery, V&A Dundee and New Art Exchange.

Seetal Kaur

Having grown up in Leeds and London, Seetal now resides in Leicester and works as a Relationship Manager for Arts Council England with a specialism in dance and diversity. Throughout her work, Seetal advocates for pride, knowledge and critical analysis of cultural identity. She strongly believes in young people’s power to make a positive impact on the world.

She is passionate about creative cultural practices and has been promoting Indian classical music and practicing the dance form of Kathak for over 8 years.Seetal met Aaminah while studying Linguistics at UCL and Sanskrit at SOAS and they foundedwww.two-browngirls.comto create a space for South Asian female cultural identity. After creating content and events, they founded ForwardCulture CIC as a social initiative focusing on the empowerment of South Asian women where she now manages fundraising and strategic partnerships.

What are ‘Pay What You Can’ tickets?

We believe that that arts should be accessible for all. For this reason some of our shows and events this year will be ‘Pay What You Can’, meaning that you decide how much you can or want to pay. This expands access to the arts for those who may not have been able to participate otherwise, or gives others the chance to support those who cannot by paying a bit extra.