Exploring India's mental health taboo through textile installation

MA Textile Design graduate Nikhita Rajesh Andi is an Indian-born, London-based multidisciplinary textile designer.

Nikhita’s practice is influenced by tradition, culture and storytelling. Her multi-disciplinary textile practice incorporates weaving, block printing, embroidery and printmaking. Her Graduate Showcase submission explores the taboo of mental health in India.

We spoke to her about her project Unspoken, a series of textile installations she has created which aim to encourage the idea of de-stigmatising conversations about mental health and well-being.

Nikhita:

Mental health care and wellbeing in India is considered a taboo and the presence of a lingering mental illness is ridiculed and ostracised. It is a conundrum, that a culture known for spiritual wellness views mental health as a taboo.

Unspoken is a narrative sensorial textile installation with the involvement of visual, tactile, olafactory, and sound elements. I used indigo hand painting and Indian tie and dye techniques along with notes of Lavender scent.

The soundscapes were in collaboration with sound designer Naveneeth Krishnan. They were developed with the idea of oscillation between a stable human mind and triggering emotions allowing the viewer to dwell deep into and with the installation.

The ideology behind the series was reassuring the viewer that they are not alone by building a sense of togetherness and acceptance to encourage free conversation.

It explores how textiles can facilitate healthy expression and healing in mental well-being, through the involvement of mind and body. Elements in the series were used to trigger the audience to understand, build vocabulary and question the oppressive societal structures around mental health and well-being.

View Nikhita’s work on the UAL Graduate Showcase

Find out more about MA Textile Design