Suchitra Mattai: she walked in reverse and found their songs

Indo-Caribbean artist Suchitra Mattai unravels stories of the past to imagine new futures. In her work, she is deeply influenced by the history of her ancestors, who were brought from India to work as indentured laborers in Guyana. She works with materials that honor the labor of women—including vintage saris, beads, and embroidery—and uses techniques passed down through generations.

At the center of the exhibition, Mattai reimagines her grandparents’ home in Guyana, the core of her migration story. From there, a memory journey told through textiles and sculptures spills out into the rest of the gallery. The title of the exhibition, she walked in reverse and found their songs, points to the ways in which peering back can help us find our place in the world. But the exhibition also illustrates slippages between past and present, reminding us that memory is subjective and that histories can—and should—be rewritten.

Suchitra Mattai: she walked in reverse and found their songs is organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco.

Presenting Sponsor


Major Sponsor
Seattle Art Museum Supporters

Generous Support
City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture

Additional Support
Cadogan Tate
Indian American Community Services
Rajesh and Sudha Jha
Mala and Suri Raman
Satya and Rao Remala
Geeta and Hemant Vyas