Sancintya Mohini Simpson

Inquiry questions

• What can you smell, hear and see when you are near the artworks? (Please don’t get too close to them though!) 
• How do you feel after viewing Dhūwã? 
• Look closely at kūlī / karambu (2020–2021). What do you think the figures are doing? 
• What do you find most interesting about the artworks? Why? 

Introduction

Sancintya Mohini Simpson is an artist and researcher. She describes herself as a biracial person, a first-generation Australian of Indian-Anglo descent. Members of her mother’s family were indentured workers from India, who were sent to work on sugar plantations in South Africa.  

“From the impact of colonisation there's this history of trauma, we see it here in this country, we see it globally, and for me, I've seen that in my family and have become that healing is something that needs to happen, but how do we do it? Acknowledging these women and these histories is a big part of that process." (Sancintya Mohini Simpson, The Art Show, 2018) 

Her works kūlī / karambu (2020–21) and Dhūwã̄ (2020) create an archive of the perspectives of indentured workers and their families to address memory, trauma from migration and colonisation. The scent she made for Dhūwã is made from the smoke of burnt sugar cane, liquid coconut oil and perfumer’s alcohol (95%) that is spritzed in the space daily. 

Creative learning activity

You will need:

• Writing materials

Process

An archive is a collection of historical records that could be in any type of media. These records are often unpublished, unique accounts – for example, letters, diaries, documents, films or photographs – that are preserved for their cultural or historical value. 

Create your own multisensory archive based on a memory that involves you, your family or community. 

A note on the process: If any of the senses are not available to you, substitute it for a sense that is. 

1. Think of a memory that involves you, your family or your community. It could be as simple as a walk in a park together on the weekend, or an important event for your family. Close your eyes and slowly replay this memory from start to end. 
   
   
2. Return to the beginning of the memory and note down the following:  
   1. What colours do you see? 
   2. What can you smell? 
      
      
3. Move to the middle of your memory and, again, note down the following:  
   1. What can you hear?
   2. What can you smell? 
      
      
4. Move to the end of your memory and make notes on the following: 
   1. What sensations can you feel?
   2. What can you smell?
      
      
5. Write an account of your memory by describing the above answers at each stage. This account can make up just one part of the archive of your memory. If possible, put together other records and sources in this archive. 

Extension

Smell is a sense that is directly linked to the parts of our brain that process memory and emotion. Research online for a simple chemistry tutorial in making perfumes and follow the tutorial to create a perfume that evokes the memory you wrote about. 

Reflection

• Which sensory experiences were strongly anchored in your memory? Why do you think it was so? 
• Is there someone from your family or community with whom you would like to share your story or memory? 
• Why do you think Sancintya Mohini Simpson wants to share this story of her family’s history? 
• Why would the artist choose to share this story through multiple senses?