The Indian/Australian diaspora faces pressure from both worlds to bend in their direction—what remains is a tension between the two, and a seamless ability to code-switch. Decisions are made everyday as to what is preserved, adapted, and left behind—from this process, a new hybrid culture is birthed.

Remnants of Ritual by artist Anu Kumar captures moments of this hybridity. In a series encompassing portraits, details of possessions, and landscapes, Kumar documents an evolving relationship to the motherland, and the land currently occupied.

Working primarily with medium format photography, Kumar explores themes of belonging, using her practice as a gateway to understanding her identity as a woman born in India and raised in Australia.

Presented on the forecourt of State Library Victoria, Remnants of Ritual aims to celebrate the strength of community, tradition and the evolution of Indian people in the Australian context.

Commissioned by Photo Australia

Supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, an Australian Government initiative