Mee Jey: In Search of Home by Bruno David Gallery

MEE J E Y

IN SEARCH OF HOME

bruno david gallery

MEE JEY

IN SEARCH OF HOME April 28 - June 17, 2023 Bruno David Gallery 7513 Forsyth Boulevard Saint Louis, Missouri 63105, U.S.A. info@brunodavidgallery.com www.brunodavidgallery.com Founder/Director: Bruno L. David This catalogue was published in conjunction with the exhibition “In Search of Home” at Bruno David Gallery. Editor: Bruno L. David Catalogue Designer: Hazel Tao Designer Assistant: Claudia R. David Printed in USA All works courtesy of Mee Jey (Meenakshi Jha) and Bruno David Gallery Photographs by Bruno David Gallery Cover image: Day Dreamers, (detail) 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 x 60.96 cm.) First Edition Copyright ©2023 Mey Jey and Bruno David Gallery All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Bruno David Gallery

CONTENTS QUOTE BY MEE JEY AFTERWORD BY BRUNO L. DAVID CHECKLIST AND IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION BIOGRAPHY

“When you have less resources, you become more resourceful.” MEE JEY

AFTERWORD BY BRUNO L. DAVID

I am pleased to present In Search of Home an exhibition by Indian-born St. Louis based artist Mee Jey (Meenakshi Jha). This is Jey’s first solo exhibition with the gallery. This series of new work directs our gaze towards arduous and life-threatening journeys that millions of immigrants undertake in search of a better home, often holding an image of a paradise that does not exist. Mee Jey derives heavily from her biographical and ecological events, exploring the political, social, and philosophical understanding of ‘self’ and ‘others’ in the given socio-political scenario. Mee Jey is an artist who prefers to use repurposed materials. “When you have less resources, you become more resourceful,” she states. Growing up in a large family where resources were slim, she learnt innovative use of material as a way of living. Her work is active and breathing, constantly changing, and growing. Her approach incorporates multiple disciplines that range from drawings to paintings, sculptural installations, text, and time-based media including performances. Mee ventures out in the geographical expanse to connect with self and understand problems of others. This dialectical process of give and take manifests itself in her community-based projects and makes creative process as significant as her final forms. Mee Jey received a M.F.A. from Sam Fox School of Arts, Washington University in St. Louis, Master’s degree in History from Jawaharlal Nehru University and MPhil in Liberal Arts from Ambedkar University in Delhi, India. The artist currently resides in St. Louis, MO. Mee Jey was also honored with the St. Louis Emerging Artist Award, 2022 and the Community Arts Training Fellowship at Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis. Support for the creation of significant new works of art has been the core to the mission and program of the Bruno David Gallery since its founding in 2005. I am deeply grateful to Hazel Tao, who gave much time, talent, and expertise to the production of this catalogue. Invaluable gallery staff support for the exhibition was provided by Sammy Wood, Jacob Hughes, Taylor Anderson, Beth Mc Donald, Jada Ivy, and Benjamin Levine.

CHECKLIST & IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

(Detail)

Belongings (1) 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Eleventh Place 2023 Repurposed fabric, rubber toy and yarn on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Water Walker 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Endless (II) (Desert) 2023 Repurposed fabric and golden emergency mylar quilt on wood board 48 x 48 x 5 inches (121.9 x 121.9 x 12.7 cm) 19

(Detail)

In Search of Home 2022 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Day Dreamers 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Tulip Town 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Paradise (1) 2022 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

In Between 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Endless (I) (Water) 2023 Repurposed fabric and emergency Mylar quilt on wood board 48 x 48 x 5 inches (121.9 x 121.9 x 12.7 cm)

(Detail)

Cacti Maze 2022 Fabric, rubber toy, yarn on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

The Maze 2023 Repurposed fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

(Detail)

Belongings 2023 Repurposed fabric and emergency mylar quilt and yarn 37 x 37 x 6 inches (93.98 × 93.98 x 15.24 cm)

(Detail)

Beyond Horizon 2023 Fabric on wood board 24 x 24 inches (60.96 × 60.96 cm)

Brave Wave Rider 2022 Fabric on wood board 24 x 28 x 1 inches (60.96 × 71.12 x 2.54 cm) 41

MEE JEY (MEENAKSHI JHA) Lives and works in St. Louis, Missouri

EDUCATION MFA, Washington University in St. Louis, Sam Fox School of Arts, St Louis, USA. 2019 MPhil, Ambedkar University, Delhi, Department of Liberal Arts, Delhi, INDIA 2014 MA, Jawaharlal Nehru University, School of social Studies, New Delhi, INDIA 2010 BA, Jesus and Mary College, Department of History, Delhi University, New Delhi, INDIA 2008 Oral History Documentational training, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Ambedkar University Delhi, 2012

SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2023 2022

2021 2020 2019 2018 2016

HEAR ME NOW, Solo performance, Middlesex University, London, May In Search of Home, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue) Animation Project- ‘A Home Town Folk Tale and Other Stories’, St. Louis, MO ‘Activism Through Art’- Special viewing at Designing Block, St. Louis, MO, September Sourvenir, Laumeier Sculpture Park. St Louis, MO, June Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis, ‘Hostile Terrain – 94’ MY BABY performance, September 2 St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis, November 28th– December 26th Performance- MY BABY, Missouri History Museum, ‘The Bridge: Women, Art and Power’, August 6 DADI, Erica Popp Gallery, St. Louis, August – September ‘I’ in Togetherness, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, INDIA, July Workshop at Fine Art Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA Residency at NIV Art Gallery, FRAU, February- INDIA International Residency at Shop Art/ Art Shop, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA

2015 2012

Residency at NIV Art Centre, INDIA, July 23rd– August 12th Solo Show at India Habitat Centre, Artologue: Art for All. New Delhi, INDIA, October Solo Show at Artist Art Abode, Artologue: Art for All. Haryana, INDIA, November Solo Show at Lokayata Gallery, New Delhi, April, INDIA

GROUP SHOWS 2023 2022

2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2014 2013

Mother’s Art Prize show, Zabludowicz Collection, London Creativity in the Time of Covid-19: Art as a Tool for Combating Inequality and Injustice, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan SHIM Aqua Art Miami, Miami Art Week & Art Basel, Florida Tell Me A Story. St. Louis Artist Guild, St. Louis Remixing Realities. THE EVAC, New York, NYC Video Art, Art Number 23 Gallery, Athens, Greece 8x8x8 at Faundry, St. Charles, MO December RISE at Jacoby Art Center, Alton, Illinois, March MFA Thesis Show at The Luminary, St. Louis, May – July Pop-Up at Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. March MFA 1st year Show at Des Lee Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, April Open Studio at Lewis Centre, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, ‘Art meets Book’ at Gallery Art Centric, New Delhi, INDIA Gendered Experience’ at Ambedkar University, Delhi. INDIA Emerging Art(ist) at Gallery NIV. New Delhi, INDIA

GRANTS & AWARDS Creative Impact Lab Artist Fellow, CAM St. Louis 2023 CERF Artist Grant 2023 Artist-in-Residence at Craft Alliance 2022-23 St. Louis Visionary Emerging Artist Award 2022 Artist in Residence at Laumeier Sculpture Park 2022 Mothers Art Prize 2022 ASAP Fund, Pulitzer Arts Foundation + Sam Fox School of Arts 2020 Future Fund Grant, The Luminary 2020 Artist Relief Fund, Regional Arts Commission, St. Louis 2020 Community Arts Training, Regional Arts Commission 2019-2020 Sam Fox Dean Travel Grants for Community Arts, WashU 2018 & 2019 McDonnell International Scholarship, USA 2017-2019 Legislative Fellowship (LFP) USA 2017 The Professional Fellows for Governance and Society Program (USA) 2017 Dubinsky Art Grant, USA 2018 Rajasthan State Acknowledgement Award, India 2016 PRESS - PERFORMANCES - TALKS RESIDENCIES Mother Art Prize International Residency, London (UK), May 2023 Craft Alliance, St. Louis. USA 2022-23 Resident Teaching Artist at Contemporary Art Museum St, Louis 2022-23 Laumeier Sculpture Park Community Artist Residency, St. Louis, USA 2022 Fine Art Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA 2018 NIV Art Gallery, FRAU, February, INDIA 2016 Shop Art/ Art Shop, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA 2016 NIV Art Centre, INDIA, July 23rd – August 12th 2019

ARTUST TALKS/ PANEL/ GUEST LECTURE/ JURY Artist talk & workshop- Zabludowicz Collection, LONDON, May 2023 Artist talk & workshop- Mother House Studio, LONDON, May 2023 Jury- Webster Art Fair, St. Louis 2023 Jury- Laumeier Art Fair, St. Louis 2022 Jury- National Juried Exhibition at Webster Arts, St. Louis 2021-22 Artist Speaker Panel- Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, ‘Hostile Terrain – 94’, September 2, 2021 Guest lecture- School of Design and Communication, Washington University in St. Louis, September 8, 2021 Artist talk- Venture Café St. Louis, ‘MANNAT: A Special Prayer for children victims of violence, July 29, 2021 Artist talk & panel discussion- Washington University in St. Louis, ‘Hostile Terrain 94: A Global Remembrance and Reflection’, October 23, 2020 Artist talk- Missouri History Museum, ‘The Bridge: Women, Art, and Power’, August 6 2020 Artist talk- Erica Popp Gallery, St. Louis- ‘DADI’, August 22, 2019

RELEVANT EXPERIENCES 2023

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Creative Lab Fellow Forsyth School, St. Louis, Artist in Residence 21c Art Museum Hotel St. Louis, Art Ambassador 2022 Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, Resident Teaching Artist 2020 St. Louis ArtWorks, Lead Instructor: Sculpture and Textiles designing 2017-19 Sam Fox school at Washington University in St. Louis, Assistant Instructor 2016-17 Google Cultural Institute, India , Curator/ Researcher 2013-23 Artologue: Art for All (www.artologue.in), Co-Founder and Artist 2011-2012 American Institute of Indian Studies, India, Intern, Center for Archaeology and Art

MEDIA Animation Project: A Home Town Folk Tale and Other Stories, St. Louis, 2022 Craft Alliance announces Artist in Residence 2022-23, September 2-8, 2022 My Dadi: My Muse, Outlook India, February 8, 2022. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis, Hostile Terrain-94, artist performance, September 2, 2021 Oui Gallery, Hongkong, MANNAT: A Special Prayer, September 2021 Travel + Leisure India, Meet Mee and Jey of Artologue: A Travelling Duo that Paints Homes, 2021 VoyageSTL, Check out Mee Jey’s Story, October 15, 2021 Jacoby Arts Center, Illinois, RISE: Artist Talk, February 6, 2021 Hostile Terrain 94@ WUSTL, Washington University in St. Louis, 2021 St. Louis, Shakespeare Festival, A Walking Xmas Carol, 2020 Hamdan, Lara, ‘A walking Xmas Carol’ Brings A HipHop Dickens to life in the Central West End, St. Louis Public Radio, December 4, 2020 Roberts, Jen. See this now: Mee Jey’s art as part of ‘Walking Xmas Carol’, Dec 1, 2020 Wu Jenny, I want to carry all of it, an interview with Mee Jey, REMAKE, August 2020 The Bridge: Women, Art, and Power. Missouri History Museum, August 6 2020 Jeremy Goodwin, podcast with Mee Jey, Cut-Paste, St. Louis Public Radio, April 10, 2020 Interview by StoryTel: Creative survival technique in Pandemic by Mee Jey and Jey Sushil, March 25, 2020 Seanna Tucker, Lauren Harms Milford, Creating Through Crisis: Mee Jey, an immigrant artist from India, tells community stories through her art in St. Louis and abroad, STL.COM, March 16, 2020 Beal, Dickson, Threading Our Way into The World: Innovating Textiles making the cut in a modern age, The West End Word, 9/2/2019 Lahs-Gonzales, Olivia, Layered Histories: Two Fall Exhibits, All The Art, Fall 2019 Quotes from conference in edited book- Cultural Governance in a Global Context, 2015 Book Chapter- Super Couple, by Prachi Garg, 2017. The Hindu (National Daily, India) Art for People’s Sake, March 2, 2014

PUBLICATION Artist Diary: How an Indian artist is Preserving Her Childhood Memories Through her Craft, Mee Jey, Outlook India , February 4th, 2022. ‘DIALOGICAL PRACTICE, MFA Thesis, Sam Fox School of Arts, Washington University Open Scholarship, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019 Mee Jey, Multi-Tasker Artist Mother, All the Art , Fall 2019 Catalogue, “Mee Jey: In Search of Home”, Bruno david Gallery Publications, November 2023 Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis, Hostile Terrain-94, artist performance, September 2, 2021 Oui Gallery, Hongkong, MANNAT: A Special Prayer Jacoby Arts Center, Illinois, RISE: Artist Talk, February 6, 2021 Venture Café St. Louis, ‘MANNAT: A Special Prayer for children victims of violence, July 29, 2021 Hostile Terrain 94@ WUSTL, Washington University in St. Louis, 2021 Hamdan, Lara, ‘A walking Xmas Carol’ Brings A HipHop Dickens to life in the Central West End, St. Louis Public Radio, December 4, 2020 Roberts, Jen. See this now: Mee Jey’s art as part of ‘Walking Xmas Carol’, Dec 1, 2020 Washington University in St. Louis, ‘Hostile Terrain 94: A Global Remembrance and Reflection’, October 23, 2020. Missouri History Museum, ‘The Bridge: Women, Art, and Power’. August 6 2020

Wu Jenny, I want to carry all of it, an interview with Mee Jey, REMAKE, August 2020 The Bridge: Women, Art, and Power. Missouri History Museum, August 6 2020 Jeremy Goodwin, podcast with Mee Jey, Cut-Paste, St. Louis Public Radio, April 10, 2020. Interview by StoryTel: Creative survival technique in Pandemic by Mee Jey and Jey Sushil, March 25, 2020 Seanna Tucker, Lauren Harms Milford, Creating Through Crisis: Mee Jey, an immigrant artist from India, tells community stories through her art in St. Louis and abroad, STL.COM, March 16, 2020 ‘DIALOGICAL PRACTICE, MFA Thesis, Sam Fox School of Arts, Washington University Open Scholarship, Washington University in St. Louis, 2019 Mee Jey, Multi-Tasker Artist Mother, All the Art, Fall 2019 Beal, Dickson, Threading Our Way into The World: Innovating Textiles making the cut in a modern age, The West End Word, September 2, 2019 Lahs-Gonzales, Olivia, Layered Histories: Two Fall Exhibits, All The Art, Fall 2019

brunodavidgallery.com brunodavidprojects.com @bdavidgallery #BrunoDavidGallery #MeeJey #MeenakshiJha #InSearchOfHome #GoSeeArt #ArtExhibition #ArtPublication #ArtBook #ArtCatalog instagram.com/brunodavidgallery/ facebook.com/bruno.david.gallery twitter.com/bdavidgallery goodartnews.com/

ARTISTS Antonio Ainscough Sara Ghazi Asadollahi Barry Anderson Laura Beard Heather Bennett Lisa K. Blatt Michael Byron Ben Brough Quinn A. Briceno Bunny Burson Lisa Bulawsky Judy Child Carmon Colangelo William Conger Alex Couwenberg

Terry James Conrad Jill Downen Damon Freed Yvette Drury Dubinsky Douglass Freed Adrian Gonzalez Richard Hull Mee Jey Kelley Johnson Chris Kahler Leslie Laskey Justin Henry Miller James Austin Murray William Morris Arny Nadler

Yvonne Osei Patricia Olynyk Charles P. Reay Daniel Raedeke Tom Reed Frank Schwaiger Eric Minh Swenson Char Schwall Christina Shmigel Thomas Sleet Buzz Spector Andrea Stanilav Cindy Tower Mario Trejo