Pairing customs reminiscent of a different place and time with her contemporary American life, Kambli foregrounds the ideas of displacement through storytelling. Kambli’s photographic language consists of entangled autobiographical artifacts that carry diverse temporal and cultural meanings.

In front of the camera, Kambli dually performs her ancestors’ histories, as well as her own in attempts to journal what it means for her to be bicultural. She shuffles all of these journeyed objects – including her representation of self – to form a family tree of disjointed stories The juxtapositions of old and new bridge gaps in time and space, transforming the artist’s attachment to the past and present.

About the artist

Priya Kambli was born and raised in India, and moved to the United States at the age of eighteen, carrying her entire life in one suitcase. She began her artistic career in the U.S. where her work has always been informed by her experience as a migrant. She earned her M.F.A. in photography from the University of Houston and received her B.F.A. at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. While in Houston, Priya also interned at HCP. She is an associate professor of art at Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri where she lives with her husband and son. 

Special thanks to The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation for their support of this exhibition.

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW AND RELATED PROGRAMMING

The Power of Now and Other Tales from Home - Julie Blackmon - HCP’s Main Gallery, March 9 - April 22, 2012

Home Stills - Bastienne Schmidt - HCP’s Gallery X/Y, March 9 - April 22, 2012

Color Falls Down - Priya Kambli - HCP’s Learning Center Gallery, March 9 - April 22, 2012

Opening Reception for all three exhibitions at HCP, Thursday, March 15, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Artist Talks: Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15

The FotoFest 2012 Biennial, March 16–April 29, 2012, is the 14th International Biennial of Photography and Photo-related Art. The 2012 edition is titled “Contemporary Russian Photography,” and spans the late 1950s to the present. The United States’ largest and longest-running international photography festival, FotoFest is also one of the oldest international showcases for photography in the world. FotoFest 2012 features photography and mixed-media exhibitions, an international portfolio review for artists, evenings for art collectors, opportunities

to meet artists, symposia on photography, artist and curator talks, workshops for artists, gallery treks, film screenings, book signings and the international Biennial Fine Print Auction. For more information, visit: http://www.fotofest.org/2012biennial.