Jessie Kaur the winner of the First Light Open Eye Awards
We are delighted to announce Jessie Kaur as the recipient of the First Light, Open Eye Award for her project Sardani, a series of portraits that picture three generations of Sikh women who frequent her local Gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Huddersfield.
In Jessie’s words: ‘The photographs chart the ongoing evolution of Sikh culture and identity in Britain, as the community’s connection to its cultural roots subtly shifts from generation to generation.’
This was a sentiment that was echoed by many visitors to the First Light exhibition who were struck by how the photographs eloquently describe modern Britain and Britishness, in all its fluidity and complexity. As the writer and critic Francis Hodgson wrote upon seeing the work:
‘What are we looking at here? More or less traditional textiles (some of them may well be nylon), gorgeous in their finery and elegantly draped, giving life and grace to logo-ed windcheaters which need both of those things. And that very simple juxtaposition invites us to think far more broadly, about culture and history and religion and capitalism and lots more. Amazing things, photographs, when done well.’
While these photographs are specific in the culture and community they show, as Hodgson notes, they invite us all to consider the cultural makeup of this country; to contemplate what Britishness is today in all its kaleidoscopic hybrid diversity. It is for the clarity of these ideas and their assured expression through these portraits , that we have awarded Jessie with the award.
As part of the award, Jessie will be exhibiting brand new work about Sikh diaspora in the UK on Digital Window space at Open Eye Gallery in 2022.
— Announcement by Mario Popham, First Light Curator
All images by Jessie Kaur