Liberty and Light, by British artist Chila Kumari, is a display of bright neon sculptures: colourful sweets, Southeast Asian tuk-tuks, Hindu gods and goddesses, wild animals (bees, flamingos, snakes), and lots of flowers. It is an installation designed to lift the spirits of its visitors. There are new sculptures as well as others recycled from previous projects, in a gesture of commitment to sustainable practices. In fact, Liberty and Light is a reworking, with many elements previously showcased at Can Framis, of the mural presented by Chila Kumari at last year’s Llum BCN. Now it adorns the façade of Santa Mònica and awaits a new incarnation: it will continue its useful life at the service of the residents of El Raval, who will be able to use these neon sculptures as a community resource in an initiative promoted by Santa Mònica and La Traginera - Comunalitat de Ciutat Vella.

PICTURES: Jordi Play

Chila Kumari’s work explores representation, gender and cultural identity. Challenging the stereotypes associated with South Asian women in the UK, she has worked with engraving, sketching and painting, as well as creating installations and films. A key figure in the British Black Arts Movement of the 1980s, she often uses self-portraiture as a tool for empowerment and self-determination. She was selected as the fourth artist for Tate Britain’s 2020 Winter Commission and has since received a number of commissions from British cultural institutions including FACT Liverpool, Liverpool City Council, and the Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool. She received an honorary doctorate and an honorary fellowship from the London University of the Arts in 2017, and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for her services to the British arts. Kumari has exhibited worldwide and her works can be found in several prestigious public collections.