Sutapa Biswas @ Autograph Gallery

Where history has often marginalised the female voice, Lumen reinstates it, not just as a mainstay of family and home but as an avatar of social conscience, and is the title of Sutapa Biswas’ acclaimed film.

Biswas’ art is underpinned by an interest in colonial histories and how this relates to gender, race and class. Her newly-commissioned film begins with the story of a baby emerging from a womb, ending on a note of departure, with its female protagonist about to embark on a journey across uncharted waters.   It is inspired by the artist’s journey by ship with her family from Mumbai to Dover in the 1960s.  Lumen gives voice to her mother and grandmother through a poetic and powerful monologue spoken by the actress Natasha Patel.