Uma Rani Iyli Connective Threads

PATRICIA SWEETOW GALLERY is pleased to present Connective Threads, the spun thread ‘paintings’ of Uma Rani Iyli. Having grown up in India’s traditional caste-based society, Iyli identifies as belonging to the female Indian weaver’s community. She references weaving, stitching and pattern making in her art using remnant thread sourced directly from weaver communities collected during her annual trips to Southern India. Through her use of silk threads and plexiglas tubes, she spins vibrant colors inspired by traditional Saris.

“Embracing the practices of my ancestors is always at the forefront of my work in my journey to connect my past and present. Having grown up in India’s traditional caste-
based society, I identify myself belonging to the weaver’s community. With that identity and sense of pride, I reference weaving, stitching and pattern making in my work.

“Annual trips to India and our time-based meditative processes such as wrapping and repetitive mark making inform my art practice revealing the connective threads that tie
them all together. My meditative process employs practices tied to my female identity of my Indian background and childhood memories. Each line that crosses another echoes the tradition of weaving and storytelling from my heritage”.