My practice as an artist printmaker largely stems from my own narrative of migrating from Kenya to England in my early teens, telling the story of how people and landscape are in an interconnected cyclical exchange. Initially exploring “what contributes to a sense of home, belonging and comfort?” as a theme, has since evolved into wider research examining the concept of plants and place in connection with people – merging my lived experiences across vastly different continents, the emotional connections and migration. Creativity within my socially engaged workshops places the focus on inviting conversations, sharing personal stories by engaging with colour, texture through printmaking and bookmaking; and in collaboration with other artists.
Artist commission awarded by ArtReach for their Journeys Festival 2024. Plants and Play is an immersive, interactive installation that highlighted the importance of play for our wellbeing, using the fun and familiar element of a garden swing set inside the stunning Leicester Cathedral. Featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC East Midlands, and BBC Radio Leicester.
An artist collaboration exhibition exploring themes of nature connections, walking, landscape history, front gardens and environment, personal and community wellbeing.
A colour study recording colour changes of leaves, trees and plants on my regular walking route from my home around my local green space, observed over a period of time – from flourishing vivid colours in the summer to beautiful decaying tones in the winter.
A visual story of how humans and plants are in an interconnected cyclical exchange, told through the lens of front gardens. Plants & Place is an exploration of flourishing and/or loss of front gardens and its wider impact on the natural environment, human wellbeing and sense of community. Large scale three-dimensional plants, fruit and vegetables are created to make a giant front garden installation. Join the front garden conversation highlighting how humans and plants are connected, nurturing a sense of cyclical care – environmentally, emotionally, re-building community in local urban areas, encouraging a sense of place and belonging.
A major artist commission by Leicester Museum and Art Gallery through their NPO funding. Steam & Seeds was an exhibition composed as a triptych of linocuts illustrating a story of wastewater management through the lens of plants in response to Abbey Pumping Station’s Victorian engineering and environment.
This project has been created by people from sanctuary-seeking backgrounds who are supported by the British Red Cross in Leicester in collaboration with Ruth Singer, working with ArtReach. The artists developed a series of events and activities around textiles and recycling. Participants shared stories about making, mending and reuse of textiles and tried out creative techniques inspired by a collection of textiles from around the world.
A creative project in partnership with ArtReach, working with their Roots group of participants from sanctuary seeking backgrounds, and in collaboration with award winning textile artist and creative producer, Ruth Singer. The artwork created was exhibited at Leicester Central Library as part of Journeys Festival International in August 2022.
Mandeep Dhadialla | ARTIST printmaker 