Flowers of the Earth
Solo Exhibition
Rotherham Minster
Curated by Mark Devereux Projects
Commissioned by WOW Rotherham
Selected by David Sinclaire
Supported by Flux Rotherham, Rotherham Minister and Rotherham Council
Photos by Hannah Pye
Across cultures, flowers hold deep meaning. In Indian culture, garlands represent purity, devotion, and celebration, often linked to the goddess Lakshmi and the blessings of abundance. Similarly, flowers around the world are used in rituals, offerings, and ceremonies—marking love, remembrance, and renewal.
Each handmade flower in the installation represents a unique identity, memory, or story. Together, they form a collective garland—a symbol of unity through diversity. The work invites visitors to reflect on the theme The Colour of Identity, celebrating Rotherham’s vibrant communities and the shared spaces where we all grow and thrive.
Temple bells are also woven into the installation. Traditionally made from five metals symbolising earth, air, sky, water, and space, the bells’ resonant tones invite visitors into stillness and connection. As the flowers celebrate the beauty of difference, the bells echo the harmony that links us all—inviting a moment of presence, reflection, and shared belonging.
Journey of the Blue Sun
Solo Exhibition
The Old Fire Station, Oxford
Curated by Mark Devereux Projects
Photos by Hannah Pye
Swathes of colour, light and sound consume the two gallery spaces in Oxford’s Old Fire Station, as Patel presents a series of brand-new installations and sculptures inspired by her mixed cultural heritage. Representing the experiences and stories of intercultural communities across the UK, Journey of the Blue Sun is a celebration of new beginnings and significant histories.
Saroj Patel comments: “I have always been fascinated by my parents’ stories about their initial move to the UK, the experiences they had and how different life was compared to India. Like many Indians who migrated to the UK, they faced numerous challenges and difficulties. However, being a second-generation immigrant has positively impacted my life in many ways. It has given me far more choices and opportunities than I would have had if I had been born in the villages in Gujarat.”
Incorporating her signature textile artworks with brand-new forays into sound and video, Patel invites her audiences into an immersive, sensory experience. The exhibition also includes new artworks co-created with a group of women from Sunrise Multicultural Project, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Curator, Mark Devereux added: “Journey of the Blue Sun shares an important personal story that is pertinent to so many people and communities living in the UK now. The new work Saroj has produced for this exhibition signals an exciting future for this ambitious and talented artist.”
The Wings Flutter , Grasslands are Alive
Public Art
Meadowland at Wakehurst, Sussex
Commission by RGB Kew
June-September 2024
Curated by fynn studio
Photos by Jim Holden © RBG Kew
Located in the breathtaking Bloomers Valley, rich in local Wealden species, the five large gateways form a shrine to the meadows. Taking inspiration from the grasslands across my ancestral home in Gujarat, India, and the colourful shrines carved into the foothills of the Himalayas, the 3.5m high gateways were adorned with over 700 handsewn flags, evoking the colours of butterfly and moth wings and the flowers they pollinate. Bells at each gateway signal a sense of arrival, evoking an inner peace when rung, completing the sacred place where plants, pollinators and people meet.
There will be 5 gateways represent Panch Mahabhoot: Earth (Prithvi), Air (Vayu), Space (Akash), Water (Jal), Fire (Agni). In Indian phylisophy, the fundamental structural basis of all living beings (including all plants, animals and humans) are 5 elements or Panch Mahabhoot.
Each of these five elements symbolise distinct states of matter present in all living entities, highlighting the connection between the human body and the natural world around us.
Ocean Mother
Solo Exhibition
Orleans House Gallery, London
Commission by RGB Kew
April-June 2024
Through intimate conversations with 26 South Asian mothers from the UK, artist Saroj Patel asked how histories, traditions, and culture shape their identities and discovered the active role they play in embracing and teaching their cultural heritage to their children. These extraordinary mothers break boundaries and craft new narratives for South Asian women.
This exhibition also delves into Saroj’s personal connection with her mother, Sushila, who was born and raised in Gujarat, India. Aged 19, Sushila embarked on a transformative journey, migrating to the UK and becoming a mother to three children by the time she turned 22.
Saroj’s mother faced struggle, loneliness, and conflict. Yet, her stories are woven together with threads of resilience and courage. Like many women of her era, her experiences inspire the next generation to forge new opportunities and more inclusive futures for themselves and their children.
For this exhibition Sushila wrote a song ‘Ocean of Emotions’ inspired by Saroj’s conversations with the South Asian mothers.
A special thank you goes to all the mothers that were involved in this project; Harsha Burton, Sarita Wilkes, Shazia Shoosmith, Nita Patel, Hema Mali, Mira Morar, Smita Patel, Sajini Rowland, Hina Patel Dhanji, Malinda Kaur, Remi Rana Allen, Soorya Gadkary, Lilly Sabir, Asma Mahmud Hashmi, Francesca Hewitt, Manjula Patel, Sushila Patel, Chandrika Patel, Sofia Barton, Priya Joi, Anjali Ramachandran, Sejal Parekh, Kashmira Patel, Mita Vaghela, Jal Hilson and Hema Mistry
Journey of the Blue Sun
Solo Exhibition
The Old Fire Station, Oxford
Curated by Mark Devereux Projects
Photos by Hannah Pye
Swathes of colour, light and sound consume the two gallery spaces in Oxford’s Old Fire Station, as Patel presents a series of brand-new installations and sculptures inspired by her mixed cultural heritage. Representing the experiences and stories of intercultural communities across the UK, Journey of the Blue Sun is a celebration of new beginnings and significant histories.
Saroj Patel comments: “I have always been fascinated by my parents’ stories about their initial move to the UK, the experiences they had and how different life was compared to India. Like many Indians who migrated to the UK, they faced numerous challenges and difficulties. However, being a second-generation immigrant has positively impacted my life in many ways. It has given me far more choices and opportunities than I would have had if I had been born in the villages in Gujarat.”
Incorporating her signature textile artworks with brand-new forays into sound and video, Patel invites her audiences into an immersive, sensory experience. The exhibition also includes new artworks co-created with a group of women from Sunrise Multicultural Project, Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Curator, Mark Devereux added: “Journey of the Blue Sun shares an important personal story that is pertinent to so many people and communities living in the UK now. The new work Saroj has produced for this exhibition signals an exciting future for this ambitious and talented artist.”
Interwoven
Solo Exhibition
The Art House, Wakefield
March-April 2024
Photos by Emily Ryalls for The Art House Wakefield
These sculptures serve as both storytellers and connectors, unraveling narratives that transcend borders and bridge the gap between British and Indian roots. The integration of these two cultures becomes an artistic journey, where the artist’s identity unfolds and evolves, intricately linked to her Gujarati upbringing.
Rooted in the essence of ritualistic practices and cultural traditions, each sculpture becomes a celebration of Indian culture. Yet, within the folds of this celebration lies a nuanced exploration of the joys and challenges faced by a second-generation British-Gujarati woman.
Interwoven invites you to witness the beauty and challenges of cultural duality, where the threads of the past weave into the present, creating a visual narrative that reflects the complexities and joys of a constantly evolving identity. As you explore these sculptures, may you discover the universal threads that bind us all, weaving a narrative that speaks to the shared human experience.
Tridevi : Creator, Preserver and Destroyer
Tridevi : Creator, Preserver and Destroyer, 2023
Sari, cotton, beads, bells, wire, steel, old children’s clothes, high chair, insulation
‘Tridevi: Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer’ is inspired by my experience of motherhood.
In Hinduism, Tridevi refers to the trio of goddesses Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—feminine counterparts to the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—representing the roles of Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. The banyan tree, often seen as a symbolic embodiment of the Trimurti, is echoed in this work.
This sculpture reflects the complex roles I inhabit as a mother, mirroring the essence of the Tridevi. It draws on my roots (the past), confronts the challenges of being a British Indian mother (the present), and carries within it the experiences and growth of my twin daughters (the future).
Through the process of making this piece, I explore how I’m shaping experiences for my daughters to connect with their Indian heritage. At the same time, I question certain ideologies and cultural expectations I don’t align with—ones I wish to shield them from or dismantle entirely. Yet, I also recognise the limitations of what one generation can change; cultural norms take time to transform. There are aspects of British Indian culture and society that I don’t agree with—patriarchal attitudes, expectations placed on women, and narrow definitions of identity—that I actively try to protect my daughters from. But I know that despite my efforts, they will still be exposed to these influences. Real change is slow, often unfolding over generations, and while I may not be able to dismantle these systems entirely in my lifetime, I hope to plant the seeds of questioning, strength, and self-awareness in my daughters so they can continue the work.
Genda
Genda, 2022
Steel, cotton, Indian block printed fabric, bicycle wheel, old baby clothes, acrylic mirrors and glass beads.
Photo by Sean Pollock, Canary Wharf
‘What we call the planets are no more than points of light in the vast energy network, connected intricately by the subtle lines of force, linking the entire solar system into a single organism. Though the planets appear like small points of light in the distance, their energy fields are present on Earth, and they are responsible for many of the formations of the Earth life and of our own bodies and minds.’ David Frawley from the book ‘Astrology of the Seers: A Guide to Vedic/Hindu Astrology:’
The common name for a Marigold Flower in India is called ‘Genda’ also known as the Herb of the Sun. It’s widely used for rituals, puja and ceremonies within the Indian culture. The flower holds spiritual significance and represents the Sun - brightness and positive energy.
Haridra
Haridra, 2022
Sari, cotton, bells, wire
Ba
Ba, 2022
Sari, cotton, bells, wire, mangeera, googhru
Mandala
Mandala, 2022
Steel, cotton, acrylic paint, Indian block printed fabric, old clothes, glass beads, Indian temple bells and ceramic beans.