Nations

Overview

Nations, N S Harsha’s work for Sharjah Biennial 9, is an expansive installation consisting of hand-painted flags, sewing machines and textiles. 192 sewing machines were spread systematically throughout a gallery in the Collections Building, each draped with a calico painted flag of one of the countries from the United Nations. Each machine was joined by a tangled web of thread that fed into the apparatus and flags, winding its way around the whole room.

Reminiscent of a factory floor, the piece reflects the pursuit of unique national identity through the labours of production. Harsha creates a vision of the world divided by flags, yet bound together by the forces of industry. The piece can be understood as a reflection on the broader context of national identity. Underlying the painted motif of each nation’s identity is the same material (calico), which is symbolically and somewhat chaotically sewn into a global ‘fabric.’

Harsha uses painting, installation, site-specificity and community projects to communicate narratives of everyday life. His work combines an eclectic range of images and iconography taken from his homeland and the world. Always situated in the context of global events, they become a subtle and often humorous commentary on social and political issues.


This project was part of Sharjah Biennial 9

Commissioned and Produced by Sharjah Art Foundation