On their time in the studio, Sahana says:
"I began this residency by experimenting across mediums, working with upcycled materials like embossing aluminium cans and handmade paper from lint. I’ve also been exploring oil painting, which feels more expressive and immediate, allowing me to emotionally respond on the canvas. I'm interested in how materials can act as a kind of subconscious language, where ideas emerge through the making process.
My practice is currently shaped by the dual nature of tension, its opposing forces and the in-between spaces they generate. This theme emerged from my material explorations guided by my subconscious. It feels immense rage for the current state of the world, and tensions from personal influences. Reflecting on my material choices, I'm moving between kantha embroidery and metal embossing (feminine and masculine material language).
I’m also exploring the tension between love and hate. How these contradictions coexist rather than resolve in our culture. I've been reading "Infinite Variety: The History of Desire in India" by Madhavi Menon, which has been informative on South Asian queer history and inspirational to my creative process.
My ideas form as I experiment with materials and conversations I've had with peers and my mentor, Tiffany Singh. I've also been documenting through filming and journaling on my commute to and from Te Tuhi. Observing on public transport reveals a lot about our city. Te Tuhi has a strong sense of community with a diverse range of practices happening simultaneously within the space. I’m drawn to environments that immerse you into creativity of many forms. I hope to explore more freely in this space and develop more collaborative, community-informed aspects of my practice.
Having space and time to explore so many mediums has been really fun. While there is some uncertainty around what the final results will look like, the process of experimentation will definitely refine, inform and expand my future work.
I imagine my work combining upcycled materials with painting and other forms. I’m interested in how materials can overlap and inform one another, creating more layered and materially complex works. This residency feels like an opportunity to push those intersections further and test new ways of working."