As part of a commission from the National Portrait Gallery, artist and BCVA director Anand Chhabra has been working on the Citizen UK Researchers project, which explores and documents the migration experiences of Punjabi communities in Wolverhampton.
The project has involved working closely with a group of volunteer researchers who were trained in oral history recording and archival documentation. Together, the team collected personal stories and memories from members of the Punjabi community while Anand produced a series of photographic portraits reflecting these lived experiences.
One of the highlights of the project was the opportunity to record an interview with Sathnam Sanghera, the acclaimed Times columnist and award-winning author of the influential book Empireland. Sathnam and his mother Surjit Sanghera were interviewed by Citizen UK Researchers team member alongside Anand Chhabra.
For the project, Anand created a portrait inspired by a cherished family photograph of Sathnam and his mother standing together in their garden. The image echoes the photograph that appears on the cover of Sathnam’s memoir The Boy with the Topknot, which reflects on his upbringing and family life growing up in Wolverhampton.
The portrait, along with many others created through the project, forms part of a wider exhibition featuring oral histories and photographic portraits gathered by the Citizen UK Researchers team. The exhibition celebrates the stories and contributions of Punjabi communities in Wolverhampton and will be presented at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in May 2023.
Celebrated Times columnist Sathnam Sanghera and mum Surjit at her home. Surjit holds a portrait of herself at the time she first migrated to the UK. Sathnam holds his award winning book (best non-fiction book for the Book seller awards) winning author Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain' © Anand Chhabra
Citizen UK Volunteer working Dalbero Kaur takes the lead in interviewing Sathnam Sanghera at his mum’s house for the forthcoming exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Photograph ©Anand Chhabra