SUPNAA: Dreams of Our Fathers is a photographic project by artist Anand Chhabra exploring the migration journey of his family to Wolverhampton, UK. Through photography, archival material and personal storytelling, the project reflects on memory, identity and the experiences of Punjabi migration to the Midlands.
The Arboretum Orangery in Normanton was chosen as the exhibition venue because of its location within one of Derby’s most densely populated South Asian communities. Presenting the work in this setting allows the exhibition to reach audiences whose histories and experiences are reflected within the project.
Preparing the exhibition has been both exciting and challenging. The Orangery is a large and distinctive space, requiring careful consideration of how the work is presented. We are grateful to the Arboretum management and to FORMAT24 for identifying the venue as part of the festival programme in 2024.
Alongside the exhibition, BCVA has been engaging with local South Asian groups to share stories of migration and settlement in Derby. These conversations are contributing to the development of a growing archive documenting the histories and experiences of South Asian communities in the city.
The exhibition presents three interconnected themes within the narrative: the family, the protest, and the dream. Together, these elements explore personal history, social struggle and the hopes carried through migration.
We look forward to welcoming visitors to the exhibition. Artist Anand Chhabra will be present in the gallery during opening hours. Please see the dates and times below for details.
Suspended Space Chart ephemera from artists’s family archive for Supnaa: Dreams of our Father's exhibtion during FORMAT24 @ Arboretum Orangery, Normanton Derby. Exhibition curated by Anand Chhabra