Anisha - Migrant Journeys

I am super excited to announce the launch of the Empowered Adornment Podcast as part of the research I have been doing for the Developing your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England this year. I hope you've had a chance to listen to the trailer this week, I've had so much great feedback so far! In this first episode you'll hear Co-Producer Molly Crossley interview me (Anisha Parmar) about my Gold Jewellery Stories, the pieces I love and my family's story and migrant journey from India, East Africa and then to the UK in the 1970's. I am jewellery designer and multidisciplinary artist and I create empowering statement adornments inspired by my family’s migrant journey that spans 3 continents, Taking threads from the rich tapestry of South Asian culture, viewed through the Diaspora lens. You can see my work here I have been obsessed with jewellery and adornment ever since I can remember. Growing up in an Gujarati, Indian, Hindu, East African, British amalgamated household, adornment decked our home from statues, idols, gold embellished paintings and ornaments; wherever you looked there was a carefully adorned nook.  It was the gold jewellery handed down to me from my late grandmother that inspired this project. She passed away when I was 12 years old, and being the only daughter on my father’s side of the family, I inherited her Gold jewellery pieces. It was these pieces that led me to designing jewellery, and piecing together her story. The frustration is that I never has the chance to ask her about her pieces. This project is born through that frustration,  and knowing how important it is to document the stories before they are lost is has driven me to do this crucial research. By creating this podcast series with the capacity of documenting these Gold jewellery stories, I hope they make you feel a sense of belonging, prompt you to enquire about your own family heirlooms, oral histories and amplify your family's legacy. A huge thank you to my participants that have trusted me with their incredible stories, my co producer and Editor of the series Molly Crossley and to the Arts Council for giving me the time and funding to delve into something that’s so close to my heart. For more information about the project visit: https://www.anishaparmar.com/pages/empowered-adornment If you would like to get in touch or have a Gold Jewellery Story to share email me: [email protected]  Credits: Podcast Creator and Co Producer: Anisha Parmar Co Producer and Editor: Molly Crossley Other Voices in this Story: Hansa Parmar Music: Punjabi Beats by Ash Beat & Shahed

Om Podcasten

The podcast encapsulates the research I have been doing around Gold jewellery collected through South Asian journeys of migration as artefacts with the capacity to be carriers of emotions and memories. With support from the Arts Council, I have spoken to a range of people within the South Asian diaspora, about their gold jewellery, what it means to them, how these pieces have travelled through migrant journeys and they memories they holds. This is Empowered Adornment, Gold Jewellery stories with Anisha Parmar. Co Produced and Edited by Molly Crossley.