Programmed by Radical Exhibition Collective

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South Asian Solarpunk explores the audiovisual work of Birmingham-born artist Seema Mattu.

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Through futuristic aesthetics and speculative storytelling linked to British South Asian culture and its roots in Birmingham, Seema’s practice is framed as a theme park called SEEMAWORLD, which explores systems of caste, queer desire, fan labour and gender biases within digital landscapes.

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As an extension of her first solo exhibition The Scrawny Beauties of Ethni City, we’ll be screening Seema’s short film a song and dance about song and dance (2023) commissioned by Derby QUAD.

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This will be followed by a discussion with Seema and curator Juwairiyyah Wali, exploring how the Solarpunk genre can uncover utopian possibilities for South Asian diasporas in the UK.

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We’ll close with an insight into some of Seema’s new work, settling in for a soundscape of natural and futuristic sounds.

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Radical Exhibition Collective is a Birmingham-based film collective with a mission to develop film culture in the local area through providing access to independent and archival film, experimental works and socially engaged art. They recognise film spaces as a site for community gathering, collective experimentation, education and activism.

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