Chudamani Clowes (b.1966, Colombo. Lives and works in London) is a multidisciplinary artist fundamentally invested in human stories; whereby she invents characters to retell a historical past and explore issues of immigration, race and diaspora today. The artist engages with post-colonial discourse, examining the British Museum’s ethnographic archives and their impact on contemporary art. Through her work Clowes reimagines the portrayal of non-Europeans in Western museums, reclaiming her family’s colonial past and addressing themes of immigration, race, and identity. Clowes’s practice serves as a translation of history, offering a post-colonial perspective that challenges traditional narratives. She engages with a wide range of mediums including ceramic, print, performance and sculpture and incorporates unconventional materials such as banana paper, survival blankets and packaging materials in order to further her commentary.
Based in London, Chudamani Clowes holds an MFA from the Royal College of Art, London (2014) and a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from the Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design (2008). Additionally, Clowes has a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from the University of London.
Clowes has exhibited both locally and internationally including solo presentations at Saskia Fernando Gallery, Colombo (2018); Griffin Gallery, London (2015); and Imperial College, London (2016). Clowes has also participated in international group shows at The Crypt, London (2018); the Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens (2014); Royal College of Art, London (2014, 2013 and 2010); and Central Saint Martin College of Art and Design, London (2008). Clowes’s work is also featured in the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, London and the Royal College of Art Collection, London.