Rama is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the interplay between politics of caretaking and identity within systems of power, while simultaneously creating spaces for introspection, empathy, and understanding. Rama’s work bears witness to the fragility of the human spirit, mirroring the imperfections of societal structures. Through her art, not only does she examine the external forces that mold identity, but also delves deep into the rich tapestry of her own lived experiences.
My body of work utilizes ceramics, oil painting, and written poetry to explore the intricate intersections of identity, systems of power, and the relationship between the two. My work imagines new worlds and spaces that center the experiences of individuals belonging to marginalized communities, particularly people of color.
My work is influenced by my own experiences as an immigrant person of color living in America. I am inspired by activists like Mia Mingus, Kelly Hayes, Mariame Kaba, and Lara Sheehi, and writers and poets like Hussein Al-Barghouti, Franz Fanon, Edward Said, and Mahmoud Darwish. All of these activists, artists and writers have discussed the relationship between intersectional identities and systems of power in different ways.
My current project “Seeking Understanding” combines poetry and ceramics to create space for discourse that centers art therapists of color’s experiences with systems of oppression. My project builds on my general focus of creating new ways of existing in a world that thrives on the erasure and oppression of marginalized communities. Through my work, I seek to foster spaces where imagination becomes a catalyst for societal transformation, paving the way for a world that celebrates the vibrant diversity and resistance of marginalized voices.
Seeking Understanding, 2023. Glazed ceramic.
Seeking Understanding, 2023. Glazed ceramic.
Seeking Understanding 2023. Glazed ceramic.