Capturing the Bangladeshi diaspora through embroidered portraits

How a self-portrait became a portal to South Asian ancestry

In this episode of From Other to Center, I tell my own story.  I’ve experienced othering throughout my life, and one of the ways I challenge that is by connecting to my South Asian identity. I chose a piece of adornment, a gota dupatta, and took a self-portrait — wanting to connect deeper to my ancestral identity. I ended up discovering a whole other layer that I could never have anticipated.  In this episode, I’m joined by a special guest, my husband David, who has witnessed this journey I’ve been on first-hand. We discuss how I got started in media arts and using that as a pathway to find belonging … and the piece that kicked it all off. If you’d like to check out my self-portrait ‘Gota dupatta’ or more of my art, please visit fromothertocenter.com [https://fromothertocenter.com/] or @fromothertocenter [https://www.instagram.com/fromothertocenter/] on Instagram. Music is Aloe Joe by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue [http://www.sessions.blue/]).

Capturing the Bangladeshi diaspora through embroidered portraits

In this episode of From Other to Center, I sit down with Bangladeshi-American fiber artist Fatema Haque to ask her how she finds belonging through her art. For her ‘Bangladeshis in Michigan’ fiber art exhibit, Fatema sourced photos from her Bangladeshi community—and her own family—to create stunning, hand-embroidered portraits. Her portraits and the oral histories she gathered capture the experiences of multiple generations of her community. Fatema shares with me how her art gives her the opportunity to represent the Bangladeshi diaspora, hold space for grief, and find healing and belonging. Follow us on Instagram! You can find Fatema Haque @writesfatema [https://www.instagram.com/writesfatema] and me (Aysha Jamali) @fromothertocenter [https://www.instagram.com/fromothertocenter/]. You can also check out our website: ⁠fromothertocenter.com⁠ [https://fromothertocenter.com/] Music is Aloe Joe by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue [http://www.sessions.blue]).

Introducing: From Other to Center

In this podcast called From Other to Center, we explore the role of ancestral identity in finding belonging and embodying our full selves.  I’m your host Aysha Jamali, a South Asian media artist and storyteller. Who am I? Where do I come from? What makes me feel like I belong? These are questions I think about a lot. I’m also really curious about how others connect to their ancestral identities and move from a place of being othered to being centered.  In this podcast, I’ll be talking with people who are doing just that and hearing about all of the different ways they get there. I hope you listen in! Follow me on Instagram ⁠@fromothertocenter⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fromothertocenter/]. You can also check out our website: ⁠fromothertocenter.com⁠ [https://fromothertocenter.com/] Music is Aloe Joe by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue [http://www.sessions.blue]).