Abhaya Rajani

“Uncanny is in reality nothing new or alien, but something which is familiar and old-established in the mind and which has become alienated from it only through the process of repression.”

-Sigmund Freud, das Unbeimliche (The Uncanny)  

Abhaya’s process of making is inspired by questions about contemporary everyday objects that do not seek answers, but rather raise further questions. She is particularly interested in the manufacture and functionality of everyday ‘things’ with specific focus on structural understanding. A recurring technique is the use of incongruous materials in the representation of mundane objects in order to analyse the nature of symbolism in defining the tools of human existence. A common topic is the contradiction between an object’s materiality and its function, in order to discover new identities by removing function from their structure; the wire mesh door which cannot be opened; the pillows which do not provide comfort; the disassembled, non-functioning table which has lost its surface; these anti-objects are in the search of a mundane uncanniness as the familiar aspect of these domestic objects have been manipulated. 

The equipment which we use does not only represent its usage but a preconceived relationship between user and tool. This is revealed to the observer through the physical form an object takes, not its actual ability to fulfil its perceived purpose. The work is intended to play with the viewer’s mind by subconsciously projecting politics and poetic humour. Through the titles and poetic project briefs an ambiguous narrative is developed and further avenues of interpretation are drawn into the work. 

This explorative work uncovers an ambience of paranoia which exists within the ordinary. 

Picture: Departed/Arrived