Textile Artist and Designer

As a young graphic design student in 1980’s London, Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra’s interests did not include sewing. However, with an unceremonious push by an intuitive teacher, she stumbled into the world of textile art. A medium that proved to ignite her passion where other art forms had failed. Textile or ‘fibre art’ opened up a universe of possibilities that still intrigue Amarjeet some twenty-four years on.

Today, as a successful independent artist, Amarjeet produces vibrant and provocative pieces, ranging from wall hangings to free standing three-dimensional sculptures. She uses all types of materials in her practice including fabric, paper, metal and glass. The remarkable graphic power in Amarjeet’s work often derives from the dramatic events in her own life, which include references to both her Asian heritage and British home. Over the years, she has developed a unique style and technique that embodies both eastern and western traditions of textile art.

Amarjeet builds her pieces layer by layer, using textiles and other materials in the same way a painter uses paint. For the artist, the technical and aesthetic values of her work hold as much interest as the underlying personal and social references. “People need to look at something beautiful – to be seduced” she says, “I put so much meaning into my work without falling into the trap of being overtly political or outspoken.” As Amarjeet works, she comments on her life and the world around her, capturing moods and feelings of specific times and events within the layers. The use of cloth from her wedding dress for example, or images of her father’s funeral, add depth and purpose to her work.

The pieces in this collection are lavishly embroidered, a feast in lush pigment, embracing the visual richness of both Asian and British culture. Ancient texts and philosophies, images of rites of passage, are often worked into the fabric. While images of loved ones are also just visible under a mesh of textiles.

The celebrated piece, ‘The Gilded Trap’, is a testament to this fusion of cultures and Amarjeet’s talent and artistry. This highly original 3D work covers centuries of traditions.  Significantly, it rests within the Moghul period, when taar-kashi (gold thread work) was at its height. Its fragility and delicate weave are deceiving, as the Gilded Trap is an object of beauty hiding painful experiences, based upon the traditional Indian story of “The Golden Cage.”

‘The Joining of Two’ celebrates the ancient ceremonies of henna painting and the Indian wedding. The words, written in Gurmukhi, are from the marriage ceremony; what a wife is to a husband and a husband to a wife. Experiencing difficulties in her own marriage at the time, this piece is profoundly personal.

Amarjeet’s work brings together the long-standing tradition of textiles and embroidery in Britain and India. Women have sewn together for centuries, and her practice embodies that history, revealing how women see and experience the most important moments of their lives. These pieces connect all women in a deep and shared consciousness, reflecting how we collectively experience and remember.

Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra’s ambition to encourage the exploration of textile art is a long- term goal that usually keeps her occupied in workshops for several months of the year.  Her knowledge of textiles and graphic design has also presented her with other great opportunities, including the position of Art Director on two British feature films and several shorts.