Paper, ink, porcelain
2023
The works in the studio embody certain gestures of transformation, both within Goody’s family and larger community, towards a sense of humanity, dignity, and self-respect.
These gestures – in the form of an installation, ceramic pieces, and images – are rooted in historical events led by Dr. Ambedkar such as the burning of the laws of Manu in 1927, leaving Hinduism through mass conversion to Buddhism in 1956, and the slow but steady rise of literacy and education over the twentieth century.
Paper is present in all of the works. Goody have long been fascinated by paper’s role as a carrier of the written word, its deep ties to caste, religion and power, as well as the possibility of it taking various forms due to its materiality, strength, and fragility.
Pulp from unknown books and newspapers is smeared across the floor and wall to make a stupa. Paper holds the ink of leaking images of my family and community on their visit to ancient Buddhist caves. The sheets of porcelain also once contained paper (specifically the laws of Manu), but on firing, the paper was burnt off, leaving behind an airy and light, but hard, surface. A new page, a blank slate.