Lost In The World

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Jagjit Kaur
2 April - 14 May 2022

Jagjit Kaur is a Leicester based artist, commonly working in painting and collage. Her practice explores identity, whether relating to religion, gender or culture, drawing on her Indian and Sikh heritage. With a magpie-like eye, Jagjit pieces together images that combine fashion editorials, Indian watercolours, and party decorations to tell personal stories.

'Lost In The World' is the second exhibition in the 'Archive Fever' programme, a project about collecting and collections hosted by Modern Painters, New Decorators, funded by Arts Council England and produced in partnership with Leicestershire Museums Collection. Artists Joanne Masding, Jagjit Kaur, Dan Cowlam and Katie Schwab will each make new artwork in response to the items held in the Leicestershire Museums Collection. The Collection features items relating to the county's history, including; Victorian costume, 1970s Action Man and Neolithic stone axes.

Hindu myth tells of a serpent named Shesha. It is said that when he uncoils, time moves forward, and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist. We shed old versions of ourselves as we come to terms with trauma and change like the snake. While visiting the Leicestershire Collection, Jagjit researched taxidermy and was reminded of Miss Havisham's house, sad, wistful, yet beautifully preserved. In response, Jagjit has produced a series of paintings, accompanied by clay animals made by the local community and display cases from the Collection. Butterflies, foxes, and birds take form in the space in brown, blue and silver. Making artwork like a diary entry, Jagjit creates to make sense of her inner world, inviting us to do the same.