Sugandha Gupta, textile designer FROM TOUCH TO EMOTION

Summary

Suganya Gupta, a textile artist, designer, disability advocate, and educator, shares her work 'Sensory Textiles' during a conference. Her presentation focuses on creating tactile textiles and wearables designed to engage multiple senses, especially for those with visual impairments. Drawing from her personal experience with albinism, she explores how textures, materials, and sensory engagement can challenge ocular-centric perceptions in art and design. Gupta discusses her influences, creative techniques, and the importance of inclusivity, aiming to bridge the gap between disabled and able-bodied communities through her work.

Takeaways

• 😊 Suganya Gupta is a textile artist, designer, disability advocate, and educator, presenting her body of work titled 'Sensory Textiles'.
• 🎨 The 'Sensory Textiles' project encourages audiences to engage with her work through multiple senses, emphasizing tactility and lived experiences.
• 👐 Gupta's work includes textiles and wearables with different textures, inviting interaction through touch to reveal embedded materials.
• 👁️ Her experience with albinism, which affects her vision and social identity, strongly influences her work and process.
• 🧵 Gupta uses various textile techniques, such as hand felting, weaving, and pleating, to create tactile and accessible pieces.
• 👗 She emphasizes breaking ocular-centric perceptions, aiming to engage diverse audiences through sensory interaction.
• 🌸 Gupta draws inspiration from disabled artists like Judith Scott, whose work embodies the strength of creative expression despite limitations.
• 🌿 Gupta’s use of natural fibers and undyed materials reflects her experience with albinism, showcasing diversity in colors and textures.
• 💡 Gupta incorporates braille and tactile features in her exhibitions, striving to make her art accessible to visually impaired audiences.
• 🤝 She encourages designers, artists, and educators to embrace creativity and inclusivity, promoting diverse experiences and accessibility in their work.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the transcript?

The speaker is Suganya Gupta, a textile artist, designer, disability advocate, and educator.

What is the main focus of Suganya Gupta's body of work?

The main focus of Suganya Gupta's body of work, titled 'Sensory Textiles,' is creating textiles and wearables with various textures and materials that engage multiple senses, allowing audiences to interact with the work through touch and their lived experiences.

How does Suganya's disability influence her work?

Suganya Gupta has albinism, a genetic condition that affects her vision and social identity. Her experience with limited vision and photophobia informs the tactile and sensory aspects of her work, allowing her to create art that others can engage with through touch and different senses.

What methods does Suganya use to invite audience interaction with her work?

Suganya invites audience interaction through the use of varied textures, hand-felting techniques, wearables that can be draped in multiple ways, and materials that are only fully understood through touch, such as embedded materials inside bubble-like structures.

How does Suganya’s condition of albinism impact her approach to color and texture in her work?

Suganya's albinism, which makes her legally blind and sensitive to light, drives her to use lighter tones and textured materials. She chooses natural or undyed fibers, reflecting both her vision and the diversity of skin tones among people with albinism.

How does Suganya approach the idea of inclusivity in her designs?

Suganya focuses on inclusivity by creating work that people can experience through different senses, especially touch. She designs for wider audiences, not specifically for disability, but with accessibility in mind, encouraging people to engage with her art based on their strengths.

What are some techniques Suganya uses in her textile work?

Suganya employs traditional hand techniques such as weaving, pleating, felting, and pile weaving. She also integrates non-traditional materials like balloons filled with different materials and creates wearable sculptures using these techniques.

Who are some of the artists and advocates that influence Suganya’s work?

Suganya is influenced by disabled artists like Judith Scott, who communicated through wrapped found materials, and Ernesto Neto, whose sensory-driven installations inspired her tactile creations. She is also inspired by disability advocates like Haben Girma, who emphasizes empowerment and accessibility.

What research areas and theories does Suganya draw from in her work?

Suganya draws from disability discourse, Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception, and research into dress and identity. These theories help her explore how sensory experiences and materials can reflect identity and accessibility in art.

What impact does Suganya aim to achieve with her work?

Suganya aims to bridge the gap between abled and disabled communities by creating art that can be experienced through multiple senses, encouraging inclusivity and diverse ways of engagement. She also advocates for destigmatizing differences and embracing diversity in design.