Saranjit Birdi
With foundations in architecture, dance and music, I have developed a combined-arts practice where mediums and out comes include:
- Drawing and Painting (figurative and abstract)
- Performance Art, Poetry, Dance
- Photography, Digital collage and animation
- Public Art, Events and Sculpture
- Arts in Health
I have four major combined-arts projects which include:
- ‘Father’s Lines' running currently 2025-current
- Secret Life of Plants and Poiesis 2023-24
- 'Bombed' series 2011-2022
- Mapping Bones 2017-19
I am currently working on combined arts project ‘Father’s Lines' - exploring and interpreting the Punjabi short stories of acclaimed, yet lesser known author the late Surjit Virdi (also Birdi), my father. The stories are interpreted in dance performance, bilingual print and sound installations and poetry.
‘Secret Life of Plants’ and ‘Seed Lights’ - Paintings and sculpture - Visiting Historic Winterbourne House and Garden in Birmingham over two decades I became fascinated by the dynamic forms of flora, their geometry and colour. This interest, fuelled by a 1979 soundtrack by Stevie Wonder ‘The Secret Life of Plants’ developed into a series of paintings on the same name and exhibited at Winterbourne House (2023) with a Light and Sound event ‘Seed Lights’ (2024) combining architectural scale light projection, animation, live music and poetry.
‘Mapping Bones’ - Contemporary drawing and performance art
Drawing is a special focus of my practice. In 1996, I discovered an ability to draw accurately, ambidextrously, with various parts of my body. This led to my interest in human locomotion and anthropology and developed into a drawing performance series ‘Mapping Bones’ and ‘Thisability’ (2008 to current). Reading Museum and University of Reading acquired two drawings in 2022 under the ‘Drawing Diversity’ residency.
‘ Bombed’ - War and Conflict, action-painting, drawing and performance art
I am interested in themes of war, conflict, identity and territoriality being of Indian, Sikh heritage with British nationality and living in a diverse community. This has developed over twelve years (2011-2023) into a performance-painting series ‘Bombed’, now an international project with performance in Dresden, Germany. My creative process often involves public participation unlocking local histories, and collaborations with professional and non-professional artists.
My inspiration is my late father Surjit Singh Birdi, an acclaimed Punjabi author and poet, a painting enthusiast and consummate artist. I am currently working on a decolonising project translating and interpreting his short stories through visual art works. I use my own poetry in combination with other art forms.
Born in India 1960, I am now based in Birmingham, UK. I have works in private and public collections, and several public art sculptures. I am an Associate member of the RBSA gallery in Birmingham.
Qualifications
2015 - MA Fine Art Goldsmiths University, London
2009 - MA fine Art, Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, Birmingham
2009 - Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK 2008 - Postgraduate Certificate in Fine Art, Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
2007 - Developing Arts for Health, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
1998 - Master of Arts (Distinction) in Interior Design and Information Technology, UCE Birmingham (now Birmingham City University), Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
1997 - Postgraduate Diploma (Distinction) in Interior Design and Information Technology, UCE Birmingham (now Birmingham City University), Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
1987 - RIBA Part III (Royal Institute of British Architects), Bristol University, Bristol, UK
1984 - Diploma in Architecture, Bristol University, Bristol, UK 1982 - BA Hons Architecture, Bristol University, Bristol,
Associate of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (ARBSA)
‘Seed Lights’ 2024 - Light and Sound Event, Winterbourne House and garden, University of Birmingham, UK and Birmingham Botanical Gardens, UK. 'Secret Life of Plants’ and ‘Poeisis’ 2023- Exhibition of paintings, prints, small metal sculptures and animation based on flora and botanical themes. Gallery in Winterbourne House and Garden, University of Birmingham 10 Msrch - 3 September 2023 ‘Bombed - A Trilogy' 2022 -Exhibition with installation, performances including new sound-based performance work ‘Codes’ and live stream presentations Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. Supported by Arts Council of England Herbert Gallery. ‘Bombed- Full Circle ' 2021- Light and Sound event with large-scale projection at Warstone Lane Cemetery, Birmingham. Supported by Arts Council of England and Jewellery Quarter Cemeteries Project,UK. Solo exhibitions 2011 - 'Bombed- A Moonlight Sonata', Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry, West Midlands, UK 2010 - 'Thisability', Solihull Arts Complex, Solihull, Birmingham, West Midlands 2008 - 'See, Saw' (video and photographic installation), Shire Hall Gallery, Market Square, Stafford ST16 2LD 2005 - 'Expansions'- multimedia exhibition, RBSA Gallery (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), St. Pauls Square, Birmingham 2004 - 'Follow' - multimedia exhibition, RBSA Gallery (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists), St. Pauls Square, Birmingham Group exhibitions 2011 - 'Limits' performed as part of 'Blood Sweat + Tears' at Folkestone Triennial Fringe Festival, Folkestone Fringe Triennial, Folkestone 2010 - 'Interrogation' - video work, Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London 2010 - 'Making Sense', Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford 2010 - 'SUR-FACE', The Works Gallery, Birmingham 2009 - Exhibition 'Move-meant' - Videoworks 'Country Of Fossils', 'Birdsong', 'Sometimes I get a Fever', 'The Navigation' and series of photograpic works and light painting on canvas , The Dance Workshop, Moseley, Birmingham, West Midlands UK 2009 - Exhibition 'Travel and Movement' - Photographic work 'Take me with you', Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham, UK 2008 - 'Interrogation' - (1st Prize for Video) Wolverhampton OPEN 2008 Exhibition , Wolverhamton Art Gallery, Lichfield St., Wolverhampton WV1 1DU Degree shows 2009 - MA Fine Art Show, Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University, UK Live/Performance 2004 - 'Follow' - short dance film synthesis of Music, Dance and Architecture, Screened on BBC Big Screen, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham City Centre 2003 - 'Surge'- live performance and multimedia projections, Collide Commission - venue Living Room Bar, Birmingham Artist talks 2011 - Bombed- A Moonlight Sonata, Coventry Artspace Ltd, CoventryArtspace Public commissions 2010 - 'Under The Sun' - Gateway sculpture in Handsworth and on main vehicular route into city centre, Birmingham City Council Commission, Handsworth, Birmingham 2007 - 'Elemental' - Stainless steel sculpture and water feature set within pool. Collaboration with artist Richard Ellis., Bromsgrove Housing Association, Cross St., Wolverhampton 2002 - 'Seams of Time' - Sculpture Trail for Highley Village, Bridgnorth District Council and Highley Initiative Trust, Highley Village, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire 2002 - 'Urban Tapestry'- Crowd control Barriers Commission, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City Centre Multicultural festivals Competitions, prizes and awards 2008 - "Interrogation"-1st Prize for Video category Wolverhampton Open 2008 Competition, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Road, Wolverhampton WV1 1DU 2002 - Shropshire Pride Award 2002 for 'Seams Of Time' sculpture trail, Clients Highley Initiative and Bridgnorth District Council, Highley, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire Publications 2009 - Mention in “From Jazz Funk & Fusion To Acid Jazz: The History OF The UK Jazz Dance Scene” by Mark Cotgrove, Chaser Publications 1983 - 'Inside BBC' - featured on 'Asian Magazine' programme as poet, dancer and student of Architecture at Bristol University
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