Untitled – Photograph 11

Series nameBottom Drawer Series
Description

This is a photograph of a hand decorated with henna or ‘mehndi’ and is an example of a device that Samena Rana used to create rich, textured layers in some of her compositions. The technique of layering with accessories such as photographs, jewellery and textiles is prevalent throughout her works.

Date of Creation / Publication1991 - 1992
CreatorRana, Samena
Associated Person/ Organisation
Location
Collection and Reference NumberSamena Rana (GB 2661 SR)
Catalogue NumberSR/AS/BD/11
CopyrightThe Creator and/ or associated person or organisation where applicable
Access to originalsThe originals are located at the Panchayat Archive, University of Westminster.
Series notesThe Bottom Drawer series presents different memories or identities coexisting together in one space. Samena Rana mixed materials with bright surfaces such a mirrors and jewellery with photographs, injected dyes into the compositions and used the technique of layering to create works which function on multiple levels. This ambiguity and sense of various unrelated elements coexisting in one space prevails throughout the Bottom Drawer Series.
Collection notesThe Samena Rana collection includes material from her main bodies of photographic work: the 'Flow of Water Series', the 'Arrangement Series', the 'Disability Series' and other biographical material. The digitised items include mainly colour and black and white photographs.
Dorney, Camille, 'Tribute to Samena Rana' in Third Text. No 20. Autumn 1992 (pp114)