Mani Kambo, a multidisciplinary artist based in Newcastle, delves into the inner spirit through her personal totemic symbols. Drawing inspiration from her Sikh upbringing, which is steeped in superstition, prayer, and religious rituals, her work invites viewers to reflect on the deeper meanings embedded in everyday life.
Kambo’s artistic practice incorporates textiles, fabric dyeing, and printmaking, deeply rooted in her family’s history within the caste system, which informs her creative explorations.
Opening on Saturday 7th December at BALTIC, Kambo’s solo exhibition marks a major new commission and will be her first institutional show. In this exhibition, her work questions the significance of everyday routines, objects, and rituals, blending mythology and spirituality. She is particularly interested in the human soul’s connection to the cosmos, taking inspiration from the Latin phrase axis mundi, which translates to “world axis.” This symbol represents, for Kambo, a vertical bridge between heaven and earth, connecting the surface of the earth to both the underworld and the heavens.
Kambo’s creative process captures movement and performative actions, employing elemental forces like fire to reveal, water as a purifier, and the eyes as perceivers. Through the use of totemic objects and symbols, Kambo crafts visual narratives by layering and editing images, weaving dreamlike sequences that invite contemplation. These repeated visuals function as markers, evoking spiritual themes and beliefs in reincarnation, which are central to her work.
Recently, Kambo completed a seven-month residency at BALTIC as part of their Artist Development Programme. During this residency, she explored new mediums and produced an entirely new body of work, which includes textiles, wood engraving, and symbolic imagery. The programme, established in 2022, provides learning opportunities, studio space, curatorial and technical support, and access to BALTIC’s facilities, fostering the growth of artists and curators across the North East of England.
Kambo’s exploration of totemic objects and symbols throughout her practice reflects her interest in the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of life. Her ability to layer images and narratives creates a collage of spiritual belief systems, allowing viewers to enter dreamlike realms filled with symbolic meaning. This exhibition is supported by Foundation Foundation and represents a significant milestone in Kambo’s artistic journey, offering a profound exploration of spirituality, ritual, and belief systems through a multidisciplinary lens.
For further information, head to Baltic.art.
