AN ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ new exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is billed as one of its ‘most ambitious’ projects.
Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation is now open at the Jordan Well venue.
Inspired by a Coventry family’s story, the exhibition invites visitors to step inside four immersive rooms – a 1960s passport control room, 1960s passport control room, a 1980s bedroom, and a radio studio reflecting the 1990s to 2010 – exploring how South Asian communities adapted to social, political and cultural shifts in the UK.
Marguerite Nugent, Cultural Director at Culture Coventry Trust, said the exhibition was ‘extraordinary’.
She added: “It’s an immersive, emotional and vital celebration of South Asian heritage – and of Coventry’s history as a city of migration, creativity and solidarity.”
Curator and artist Hardish Virk is the author of the stories and themes in the exhibition, which have taken inspiration from what he saw and experienced growing up in Coventry and England as a British born South Asian.
It features photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes and personal memorabilia alongside oral histories, radio broadcasts, music and film.
Hardish said: “At its heart, Stories That Made Us is a human story – one family’s journey that acts as a catalyst to share a bigger story about Britain’s relationship with South Asia over the centuries.
“Through that personal lens, we’re inviting everyone, whatever their background, to connect, reflect and find their own story in what they see – and to be inspired to share their own stories as part of Britain’s collective narrative.
“South Asian communities have been a vital part of British life for hundreds of years, shaping its culture, industries and identity. I want younger generations to see that they belong here – that their families’ and personal experiences are part of its fabric. When we understand that history, we find connection, not division.
“We’re also showing that diverse stories can be told at the highest level. This is world-class storytelling, collaborating with leading artists, designers and the film-maker, Manjinder Virk from Riverbird Films, who were commissioned to make two film installations based on my original ideas, which she bought to life through cinematic and documentary style storytelling.
“It’s ultimately about authenticity, pride and the need to know more about what connects us all, and we’re excited to share that with audiences.”
The exhibition is supporting an engagement programme to strengthen relationships with South Asian community groups in Coventry and beyond.
Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation runs until May 25. Visit www.theherbert.org for more information.
