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Shalimar: Repurposing Nostalgia

Zaine Cowan

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I am an illustrator, storyteller and explorer. My work is defined by capturing the figurative and challenging it, fostering experiences and reimagining them, and being honest especially when words fail me.

I am an illustrator, storyteller and explorer. My work is defined by capturing the figurative and...

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Shalimar was the name of my childhood home; which due to dilapidation during the Bombay monsoons, was broken down. This project aimed to rebuild my home in the form of my memories. Tiny moments and my fragmented nostalgia speak to my character and identity today. Through poetry and intricate drawings on ceramic tiles that remind me of familiarity, Shalimar is a reminder of how a child interacts with spaces and their imagination.

Final work

Black and white illustration of a female househelp and a young boy sharing a meal; printed onto a white ceramic tile

nurture

My househelp, Maushi, was a seminal part of my childhood. She fed me and took care of me while my parents worked. Her presence went unnoticed until my childhood became a point of reminiscence.

Black and white illustration of a lizard in a hand

control

Having an existential crisis was not a regular feeling for a child like me. But when I'd look at my hands and acknowledge that everything and nothing could be in them, my agency was questioned.

Black and white zine showcasing poetry and illustrations

Shalimar: The Zine

Along with the tiles, I also created a zine that served as a guide to each of the artworks. Featuring poems, it is a publication that traces my inner monologues interspersed with core memories.

Black and white illustration of an ant bullying another ant; printed on white ceramic tile

harm

Ants were a regular guest in the cracks of my increasingly dilapidated home. Once I spotted one, I would follow the trail and play with them. But today, my power is no longer a matter of size. It's about identity, class and culture. Today, an ant is a harrowing reflection of me

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Shalimar: Repurposing Nostalgia

Shalimar was the name of my childhood home; which due to dilapidation during the Bombay monsoons, was broken down. This project aimed to rebuild my home in the form of my memories. Tiny moments and my fragmented nostalgia speak to my character and identity today. Through poetr...

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