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Description of the work

My work takes shape from the immediate surrounding I am working in, and it reflects the cultural, social elements of that environment. It is time based and often shows the process. According to the place and the situation, the choices of the materials differ; it also depends on the availability of it. It shows the hybridization of various elements or materials from both, European environment and Indian Background.

A need to re-shape belongings and change the nature of substance, a dialogue of matter and memory to create and animate, giving shape to memory and evoking the past by enactment/ performance, all these constitute the language of my work.

I am interested in transforming the identity of the materials. How two different materials react to each other, what sort of shape they create, what kind of smell they produce and what impression they make on the viewer! This aspect is strongly use as a metamorphosis to my own identity as Diaspora.

Use of natural things like roses, used tea bags, coffee filters, henna & cooked rice have a quality of decaying & changing every moment of the time. These assemblages and installations are temporary structures in the time and space created by performative act. Most of the time it’s the whole process which becomes a work rather than final product. To capture these moments in photos, videos, in text or a sort of documentation is a big part of my work as well. Drawings have been very essential part of these processes as well as my wrapped personal assemblages, they inspire me for a performance for public or an act in front of the camera as video work and vice versa.

Drawings are like personal diary or maps/ diagrams of my own experiences which could be universal. The text on the paper has organic growth and builds a structure and forms a drawing. My experience while traveling through different places and cultures, meeting people, getting adjusted to the new atmosphere is also playing important role in my work.
Since last ten years, I have been working with performances, using my own body and voice in the space and with video, photographs and installations. My performances are atmospheric and they usually content props. They are sometimes ritualistic and show the cyclical circles of destruction and renewal as well as formal and conceptual ideas and the framework of personal references that inform the fragile divide between my life and art.
The element of the past or the process transformation of the material as a quantity of time is of significance. To be able to record and replay time frames and juxtapose real time with mediated time is a vital area of the work.

Monali Meher

Texts from performances

An Auspicious One

Today when I decided to talk, I was wondering…on which topic! But very soon I was pretty clear about it. This was in year 1991 when I was leaving my country for the first time, was going to united states of America, there I was invited to be an art counselor for the American children in a summer camp of Vermont. For me it was the first time to board on the plane, I was very excited about it, I had a window seat but the person next to me was absent. And on the 3rd seat was a middle aged man, it was unrecognizable to know from which country he was. But he was very friendly.

In 1998 Reflect, a personal window display was a turning point in my life, I made a statement in my first performance, “Nothing is permanent “and it is the nature’s law, but I soon realized that its very difficult to live with the fact, ‘cos you don’t want to give it up and afraid and afraid and afraid of being left alone. Sometime you want to say the truth to your dear ones! You know , you know that its not at all easy, its like…..one of those implant brain surgeries, either you are dead or alive, but you know it only when its done! Till then you are dreaming, you are in the strange, strange world, very close to the water, I must say its beautiful! So beautiful!

But in 1996, when the surgery was done on my right breast, it was a kind of relief; the lump was out, out of the system. And I became free. But I did not forget about my Indian background. I must not, I must not, the tradition, the roots, the nature and the people and the festivals and the ceremonies like being born, getting married, that was a big issue! The priest studied the birth stars of husband and wife, and chose the most auspicious date for a groundbreaking ceremony, a chilly day in April.

It is sometimes so difficult to take freedom and to make use of the freedom as well to give/ offer the freedom. I remember in 1993 someone told me that you don’t come because it is an auspicious day, your presence will spoil everything.

Just in the last week, I attended a theatre/ performance show, “Toren Van Babel” by Lidy six and Robert Styne. I used to play a role of a story teller, one among 25 of them; you have to tell a story to one of the audience who is lying in the bed. The rule is that you must tell a story in your own accent and your own ununderstandable language. But this time instead of story telling, I decided to be in a bed. The man who brought me to my bed asked me to be comfortable and he offered me a cup of hot mint tea. Instantly I was relaxed with my cushion and the night lamp beside.
One by one story tellers started coming in, I was curious whom was I going to have? Finally I had a Greek story teller, and I was told a story in one of the most ancient languages. The story was about a man and a woman from Greek mythology. The man has to go on a war so he tells his mother to take care of his wife, her own daughter in law. But she actually hates her daughter in law so she cuts her hair and sends her to the forest with 10 sick sheeps. And she tells her that if she comes back with 1000 healthy sheeps, she will be able meet her husband. When the son comes back, he asks his mother where his wife was. The mother tells him, she is dead! He doesn’t believe her and he kills his own mother. This was the end of the story which was a bit weird for me, but I was more curious to know about the hair cutting part. So I asked the Greek story teller, why the mother cuts her hair? And what is the meaning of it? He told me that it means making a woman ugly or look like a man and taking her feminity and power away.

I believe in miracles, are auspicious accidents, encouraging omens, a prosperous moment to make a decision, marked by success, fortunate, predicting good and attended by favorable circumstances, these are all interesting issues, so who cares anyway, ‘cos I am an Auspicious one…………………………………!

Copyright, Monali Meher, Feb. 2004 Amsterdam

“Golden Paithani On Chaise Longue" extended to
Vreemd/ Bekend with Gouden Kuss!”

May be the title for my performance for the “Nederlands een” exhibition in Gouda.

A small square Delft blue style tile hanging on the wall above the bed with the text,”The concert of life can not be programmed.” Change in relationships, discovering new things and new patterns about myself, shocked, feel restless, feel familiar! I feel, I am in a cell to work on my emotions and use them, maybe others can find their ways- Do I want them to walk on my path-> Politics->manipulation or stimulation. I feel arose, I love making love and to make up-> my books, shoes, computer, chair, furniture luckily in a purely practical sense—in an originally nonsuperficial sense, perhaps it would be real to say that it all began when I came to Ollanda.

They say I do not hear properly but how it could be if they want me to hear what they want to hear or say! Ruined emotions, identity issues, personal issues, new curiosities and accents, new taste and smells, familiar and unfamiliar, blue and white, black on red, green peace with orange pineapple, pigs, cows, chicken and salmon-> Smoked, Jong and Oud-> still to remember it all began when I came to Ollanda.......................!

It could be argued or corrected that unpractically in actual sense it all began thousands of years ago-----long before they came to the west cost of Hindustan and went further on.......................!

It has been studied and learnt that idealistically in real sense it all began long ago when love laws were made—whom to love, how to love and how much to love. But for me in real, naturally practical sense it all began when I came to Ollanda. The unfamiliarness made me courageous and be revealed. And the fake or real familiarness made me fantasized and sometimes confused.

Perceiving the actual reality I am living in, is always been my first priority which keeps me going, growing and changing, changing habits-> life is habitual-> just operating life by habits, is not actually living. So it’s important to feel unfamiliar once in a while and how I use this unfamiliarness in life & work was all began when I came to Ollanda.

I don’t know if it’s good or bad but I took my own destiny in my hand. It became my habit to ride a bike on terracotta bicycle path and further on became my pattern as beautiful as tulip fields.

2nd May 2006, Uithof Utrecht, University Library.

I wrapped peace, geschidanis, the modern world, wetenschap, chemical abstracts vol. 66-75, 96, 113- 119, the modern world since 1870, second edition, zeiten und menschen, LA phylosophie. Dieuke remembered her time in Uithof, while attending the lectures- students used to knitting warm sweaters.

“Sprekend Verleden” Gregory felt that my Red Myth was very extra ordinary. He felt Dutch are unlike the weather very predictable to have such things going on here like wrapping books in the library. He wrapped “Discover the past vol. 1,

A paragraph taken from the Ancient world

Magic hunt dance-> “But if he wanted to paint pictures, why did he paint them far away inside the caves where they would not usually be seen? The reason is that he did not paint them to make the part of the cave where he lived nice to look at. Instead they were used as a kind of magic. Animals and hunting played such a big part in man’s life that he felt that if he painted pictures of animals on the walls, he had a kind of control over them. The evening before a hunt the leader and some others would visit a special place where the pictures were and dance about and pray for a good hunt. Sometimes they would direct arrows at the animals and they then felt that they would be successful in the hunt on the following day.

Copyright, Monali Meher, 2006 Amsterdam

“Between the Familiar/ Unfamiliar, the Home and Heart,
Beats a Golden Kiss”.

Carl Andre & Martin Creed (Room 1)

Step 1
So, has your heart been a little bruised in a recent encounter? Was somebody not quite gentle enough with your big, warm, blood-pumping organ? Well, they weren't very clever to let you go! And when a whirlwind affair comes at you on the 3rd, 4th and 5th, you forget all about them. Sure, be careful with your heart (it's a really special one!), but take a chance. By the 7th, you should see some new developments. On the 10th and 11th make a real effort if you like them, and on the 16th and 17th, take a break to do a little emotional processing, invite them on some kind of encounter on level 5, high very high to walk on a never ending path taking small, small steps ahead bricks by bricks for the 19th, and by the 24th or 25th, you could be at a real turning point reminding me of dazzling necklace of marine drive and the big sea ahead of me to swim through endlessly. On the 29th, watch out for endless problems in the work. Expanded world, questioning the world, the quotations from my origins, the plus and minuses and the equalities! Who decides this anyway?

Naum Gabo, Brancusi, Piet Mondrian, Kandinsky, Utopi and abstraction. (Room 2)

Step 2
2nd May 2006, Uithof Utrecht, University Library. I wrapped peace, geschidanis, the modern world, wetenschap, chemical abstracts volumes. 66-75, 96, 113- 119, the modern world since 1870, second edition, zeiten und menschen, LA phylosophie for my Red Myth installation. Dieuke remembered her time in Uithof, while attending the lectures- students used to knitting warm sweaters. “Sprekend Verleden” Gregory felt that my Red Myth was very extra ordinary. He felt Dutch are unlike the weather very predictable to have such things going on here like wrapping books in the library. He wrapped “Discover the past vol. 1, 5th Sep. The Tower card suggests that my alter ego today is the Survivor, whose superpower for revolution lies in for change with the aid of a serious reality check. Today I have reached a turning point. It may be all over but the crying. I have the strength to move on and create a better situation for myself. You may say that I never saw it coming or learned the hard way, but with profound change comes new opportunity. One door closes -- another opens. So tear down the wall, and rebuild anew. Construction, composition, monuments, volumes and fishes.

Sol le Witt. (Room 5)

Step 5
A paragraph taken from the Ancient world. Magic hunt dance-> “But if he wanted to paint pictures, why did he paint them far away inside the caves where they would not usually be seen? The reason is that he did not paint them to make the part of the cave where he lived nice to look at. Instead they were used as a kind of magic. Animals and hunting played such a big part in man’s life that he felt that if he painted pictures of animals on the walls, he had a kind of control over them. The evening before a hunt the leader and some others would visit a special place where the pictures were and dance about and pray for a good hunt. Sometimes they would direct arrows at the animals and they then felt that they would be successful in the hunt on the following day. “The artist at work”: The Stone Age artists must have closely watched the movements of the animal; as his pictures catch the spirit of their actions very well. I was always fascinated by the warli painting done by adivasis on their huts layered with cow dung and liner white drawings filled with free spirit.

Cildo Meireles Eureka/Blindhotland. (Room 7)

Step 7
Smell, touch, feel, hear, taste all senses become less with the distance. Distance made me feel unfamiliar to myself, I as a human being trying to adapt to the new situation and with creation made me feel familiar to my own origins and nostalgic. I have found my way to live. The unfamiliar ness made me courageous and be revealed. And the fake or real familiar ness made me fantasized and sometimes confused. Perceiving the actual reality I am living in, is always been my first priority which keeps me going, growing and changing, changing habits-> life is habitual-> just operating life by habits, is not actually living. So it’s important to feel unfamiliar once in a while and how I use this unfamiliar ness in life & work was all began when I came to the west. I don’t know if it’s good or bad but I took my own destiny in my hand. It became my habit to ride a bike on terracotta bicycle path and further on became my pattern as beautiful as tulip fields. 20th Aug. You have been enjoying an increasing sense of awareness about your new environment and you're really starting to get a handle on things. This confident energy is filling you with a positive enthusiasm that will hit you as soon as you get up in the morning and it'll carry you through the day. The only sticking point for the entire day will be the fact that your intellectual curiosity isn't going to be satisfied to the level that you are hoping. It seems that not everyone is on your wavelength just yet.

Duchamp, Warhol, Gober, koons, Lucas, Manzoni, whiteread Readymade revisited. (Room 8)

Step8
4th Sep. The Chariot card affirms that my alter ego is a Promoter, idol or patriot, whose superpower sets objectives or avant-garde trends to compete for attention, rank or opportunity but pays a price for right action. Today I rock so bring it on -- I'll wait. I bow to, or stand for progress but 'pause for applause' to narrow the field or set stakes, stage or vehicle to motivate charades accordingly. Performing for pride, 'pinks' or personal gain doesn't hurt my game. Ambiguity in a rut is a drag so I play to win or my 'empire strikes back' with a spin, giving props to a blueprint or back-story that hits the spot on my ambition's ego trip. I've arrived and I'm ready for my close up so 'move it or lose it.'

Joseph Beuys. (Room 10)

Step 10
6th Sep. The Magician card affirms that my alter ego today is the Imaginer or Director, whose superpower is a state-of-the-art design force. By bringing free will and intention together with natural principles, the creative process is transformed into a blueprint for success. The spell is cast, and I don't have to see it to believe it. As a creative wiz, I have what it takes: the presence of mind to do what I do best. I can apply or advance new ideas and entertain new possibilities with resourceful and inventive attention to detail. I lay it on the line. I set the stage for performing my own enterprising experiments to make it over and make it work. I leave it all behind so that I can simplify or renovate the formula. I read between the lines for tips and tricks to following conventional methods and guarding my reputation and my privacy.

Holzer, Acconci, Nauman, Kosuth, Image/ Text. (Room 11)

Step 11
3rd Sep. The Fool card affirms that my alter ego today is a Quantum Leaper with a hero's heart. My superpower is liberated by free will and trust, which lead me to explore simple speculations for their own sake. I can move beyond the fear factor. I don't know where I'm going, and I don't care where I've been. I only know that, as the hero of my own story, it's for me to find out. For, like Alice, I'm on the verge of stepping into a rabbit hole; unless I stop short and play it safe, I'll know soon enough where following my own feet has landed me on this curious venture. The blissful frailty of unwritten conclusions and unguarded access sweetens the desire. So despite familiar warnings, irresistible promise draws my eyes wide open and away from domestic comfort zones, with only certain inquiry, hope and faith to recommend my course. I'll never know until I try.

Copyright, Monali Meher, 2006 Amsterdam.