Rianne Karra (b.1999) is a 2020 graduate from the Birmingham School of Art. Based in Birmingham, her work explores her British-Indian cultural heritage and highlights how it is important in British society today to not only celebrate cultural differences but also to allow other narratives to be told and shared.
Using a range of techniques including collage, digital manipulation, and textiles within her work, she uses her personal archive, experiences, and mother’s childhood memories in India to inspire her work.
Previously exhibiting at Medicine gallery for the Made Public group exhibition 2020, showcasing the work in progress from final year students at the Birmingham School of Art. Rianne has also exhibited at BAAAD Annual 2020, a student led website, displaying the work of the Art and Design 2020 graduates.
Q&A with Rianne Karra
Can you tell us a little about your practice?
My practice explores my British and Indian cultural heritage, I like to share my personal stories and experiences. It’s really important in British society to not only celebrate cultural difference but to let other narratives to be told, which in turn reflects the people and communities in Britain today. I would say my practice is multi-disciplinary, working digitally with collage and I love textiles, but quite recently I have enjoyed working digitally. I think during lockdown and having limited access, has influenced my creativity this way and it has been really nice to explore.
Where have you been working during lockdown?
During lockdown I have mainly been using my bedroom as a creative workspace, which was really strange as before lockdown I never used to work there, instead I would be in the library, the studio, or the workshops. But it has become the place in the last few months where I have complete work, researched, and been creative. I have also had days setting up in my kitchen, the garden, and my brothers bedroom, it has been a bit crazy to say the least.
What role does food have in your practice?
Food is always a constant, a human necessity, and something people can come together and share. You dont need to speak the same language to enjoy it and the food you have grown up with, and the food of your culture, is a part of who you are. I find it especially important that it allows me to explore my heritage and become part of my family heritage through making it. Recipes have been passed and taught to each generation, it makes it all the more special knowing it was taught to my Nani likes this at one point and then to my mum. It was taught through watching the process rather than something that has been written down makes me feel more connected to my heritage.
All of these recipes are family favourites, but I did really enjoy making the Mixed Vegetable Sabji with Paneer. It is a longer process of peeling and cutting up the different vegetables, but it was nice to split up the work and do this with my mum and little brother. It is such a colourful dish, that is incredibly healthy, so it is definitely one of my favourites.
Can you speak about artists/creatives that have influenced you?
For a lot of artists who influence and inspire me their work focusses on similar context, such as heritage personal experience, culture, and community, which I find myself relating to easily and enjoy seeing different narratives. Artists such as Navi Kaur, Vanley Berk, and Mahtab Hussain. Navi’s work displays a personal relationship with her grandparents and she uses her practice to share, inform, and make knowledgeable about the migrant experience, Indian culture, and Sikh faith, which I relate with well. Vanley Berk has dedicated his artist career to documenting and representing his community and his culture truthfully, which is invaluable to history. Mahtab Hussain’s work is so rich in his personal experience for his motherland, with themes of belonging, home, and displacement, which relate strongly with my own experiences.
Where do you see yourself and your creative practice in the future?
It’s definitely a harder time to picture this, but I am more than certain to keep in the design and creative industry. A creative practice can take many forms and is flexible so I can see myself exploring a number of possibilities. I think continuing to share stories and narratives is important, so implementing this into a career in education and teaching, possibly in an area of textile design because I love working with textiles, seems like a good starting point.
Click image to view Rianne Karra's cookbook