Letter to my Great Grandfather
Letter to my Great Grandfather. Front cover and book wrap.
from left to right: stitching on page edges, pages waiting to be bound with Mum leading the way, ecodyed/collaged page with my Dad, front cover detail with WW1 Sikh Soldier brass button detail.
Last summer I discovered from my 90 year old Uncle that my Great Grandfather fought in all four years of World War One. He was one of the million plus global majority soldiers who fought with/for the British empire in a horrible horrible war. All I know is that he made it home but didn’t live to meet his grandchildren, my father and Uncle being two of them.
I couldn’t find any more details on my Great Grandfather online though this search led me on a fascinating and very emotional journey into the lives of Sikh/Muslim soldiers in WW1, their villages, their letters and the folk songs their wives wrote longing for their return.
To connect with my Great Grandfather Sham Singh Kular, I decided to write him a letter – by making this book – which has become a precious artefact to me. Connecting us across timelines. I wanted to let him know he made us and our lives possible. During this book making process, Sham Singh Kular visited me in a dream. Maybe he’d be waiting for me to connect with him for all these years? This book is a symbol of my gratitude to him, my remembrance and for all my Great Grandparents (more creative connections to explore) for surviving empire so we could be here/now. All of us. Together.
What a journey this process has been. I’ve begun to experiment speaking with my grandparents and great grandparents through the language of stitch and mixed-media art. I’ve a deep desire to spend a lot more time experimenting and researching this methodology. Process first. Words and poetry after.
I am very grateful to the patient and accessible mentorship of brilliant book artist Wanda Hela Katz of @paperpalacequeen 🙏🏽. I’ll be slowly-sharing more about this creative journey over on my instagram if you’re interested.
