Memoria Corona
2006
Ivory duco paint on FRP
47 x 38 in. I 119 x 97 cm (diameter)
‘Memoria Corona’ is modeled on the crown of Queen Elizabeth II of England, on which rests the precious Kohinoor diamond that India lost to the British Empire. Unlike the opulence typically associated with royal regalia, the artist transforms this emblem of imperial authority into an all-white sculpture, inscribing the surface of the crown with the names of those who fought in the Indian freedom struggle. These names serve as a memorial to those who sacrificed their lives in the fight against British colonial rule. The work invites viewers to reconsider the narratives of power and history, urging a re-evaluation of the values and legacies we choose to honour.
“I wanted the crown to have to bear the weight of the other precious treasures – the human lives that were lost to the British Empire”.
