Annu Palakunnathu Matthew
In my work, I draw on my immigrant experience to pull back the veil on that outside of the dominant narrative and create art that explores untold histories and alternative narratives and makes this history more accessible. – Annu Palakunnathu Matthew
Photographer Annu Palakunnathu Matthew was born in England, grew up in India and lives in Providence. She is a Professor of Art at the University of Rhode Island and was the Director of the Center for the Humanities from 2013-2019 and the 2015-17 Silvia-Chandley Professor of Nonviolence and Peace Studies.
Her feature and video interview were published in the 2009-2010 issue of the Networks Project which featured twenty three Rhode Island based Artists across a broad spectrum of media and interests.
About the Artist: Annu Palakunnathu Matthew
Annu Palakunnathu Matthew’s photo-based artwork combines still images into a new form of time-lapse, exploring relationships across time. The resulting pieces look to reclaim history, offering the viewer opportunities to reflect on ideas surrounding changing values, assimilation and acculturation. The work often revisits naive histories established by the dominant culture. Her work draws on archival photographs as a source of inspiration to examine concepts of memory and to re-examine historical narratives.
A selection of work from An Indian from India…
Annu Palakunnath Matthew: in her own words…
“My transnational experience influences the kind of work that I do. In my work, I draw on my immigrant experience to pull back the veil on that outside of the dominant narrative and create art that explores untold histories and alternative narratives and makes this history more accessible. For over twenty years, I have been mining issues of identity, immigration and inter-generational memory. The artwork uses photo-based techniques to help myself and others reframe the past and thereby redirect the future. I work in a wide range of photographic media from the plastic lensed ‘toy’ Holga camera, photo animation to interactive installations. For two decades I have been an active internationally and nationally exhibiting artist and educator based in Rhode Island, USA.”
Adil from VI
A selection of photo animations from To Majority Minority, ReGeneration and…
Work presented digitally utilizing flat panels, iPads or similar technology
New work … a clip from a Video Installation of The UNREMEMBERED
A video Interview with NetWorks Photographer Annu Palakunnathu Matthew
Source: NetWorks 2009-2010 Catalogue
Matthew’s work is included in the book BLINK, from Phaidon, Auto Focus: The Self Portrait in Contemporary Photography and Home Truths: Motherhood, Photography and Loss by Susan Bright and The Digital Eye by Sylvia Wolf. Her work was recently featured on the New York Times Lensblog, CNN photo Blog and Buzzfeed. Her book Memories of India, published by Blue Sky Books, includes an essay by former New York Times art critic Vicki Goldberg.
Her work has been supported by grants and fellowships from MacColl Johnson, John Guttman, two Fulbright Fellowships and grants from the Rhode Island State Council of the Arts. In addition, she has been an artist in residence at Yaddo and MacDowell. Exhibitions include the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, San Jose Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts (TX), Victoria & Albert Museum (London), 2018 Kochi-Muziris Biennale, 2018 Fotofest Biennial, 2009 Guangzhou Photo Biennial as well as at the Smithsonian.
You can find more of Annu’s work on her website at http://www.annumatthew.com
Annu is represented by Sepia Eye in New York City www.sepiaeye.com
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