Indo-Guyanan and American artist Suchitra Mattai’s latest public art piece, We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers, is an eye-catching vista held at the Socrates Sculpture Park of Long Island, New York City. The piece is a series of irregularly sized columns with slanted mirrors on top to allow people to see themselves. The columns' bodies were entirely covered by folded saris, a historical Indian garment still widely worn today across South Asia.
The decision to cover the columns with saris reflected Mattai’s background as a Guyanan of Indian heritage. Like many other Indians under British colonial rule in the mid-19th century, her family had immigrated to erstwhile British Guyana as indentured labourers. This was a system of bonded labour under colonial rule where people were forced to work for a specific amount of time without a salary in exchange for eventual compensation or debt repayment. Under this contract system, indentured labourers were subjected to harsh working and living conditions, prompting people to label it ‘the new slavery system.’
The addition of mirrors to the columns transforms this piece from intimately personal to something everyone can reflect on. These mirrors act as Mattai’s invitation to everyone who passes by We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers to think of the roles they and their personal histories have played in decolonization efforts today.
As the piece’s title suggests, We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers also wishes to connect decolonization discussions to pressing contemporary issues involving the movement of peoples across borders. This means Mattai is asking audiences to reflect on how their personal histories have been affected by immigration. This is why We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers by Suchitra Mattai is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Reduced Inequalities and Gender Equality.
Being a public sculpture, We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers is also in direct dialogue with its immediate surroundings in Long Island, New York City. Long Island has played a significant role in the history of immigrants in the United States as the point of entry for some of its earliest Dutch and English settlers. Today, the Immigration Research Initiative (IRI) has found that over 20 percent of Long Island’s 2.9 million population are recent immigrants. The research institute has also reported that the area has seen an increased number of asylum seekers in past two years, pushing the institute to encourage relevant stakeholders to find solutions that will help them integrate into the economy.
Suchitra Mattai's We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers encourages viewers to confront their roles in the ongoing dialogues surrounding decolonization and immigration. By blending personal history with universal themes, Mattai’s installation invites reflection on historical and contemporary movements of people, drawing attention to the enduring effects of colonization and the current challenges immigrants face. Positioned in a historically significant location like Long Island, the piece speaks directly to the immigrant experience in the U.S. today, making it a poetic reminder of everyone’s interconnected pasts and shared futures.
Find out more about We Are Nomads, We Are Dreamers and other pieces by Suchitra Matta on her website www.suchitramattaiart.com or Instagram @suchitramattaistudio.