SEEMAWORLD

The Temple of Nün houses the essence of this character. Go further into her sphere for more.

Monthly newsletters which were made and distributed among locals at Bhagwan Valmik Ashram (Birmingham, UK) - dating back to 1982. This excerpt features: a written essay titled 'Caste and Contradictions in India' by Amarajit Singh.

Monthly newsletters which were made and distributed among locals at Bhagwan Valmik Ashram (Birmingham, UK) - dating back to 1982. This excerpt features: a comic strip detailing the life of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

Monthly newsletters which were made and distributed among locals at Bhagwan Valmik Ashram (Birmingham, UK) - dating back to 1982. This excerpt features: an article linking archaeological findings to Ramayan epic, and observes the search for an ancient kingdom. 

Monthly newsletters which were made and distributed among locals at Bhagwan Valmik Ashram (Birmingham, UK) - dating back to 1982. This excerpt features: a written essay titled 'Our Path Finder: GURU VALMIK JI' and discusses the Valmiki community as a caste, religion and ethnicity. 

Must be Muzhabi (2021) is one fifth of a body of works - which each take the perspective and/or experience of a main character within the growing narrative of Youterus. 

Considering the real-life rigidities of caste, Must be Muzhabi (2021) explores the ways in which these limitations are challenged by intercasteness, conversion and the interlocking of nature and nurture. 

Youterus is both the interactive map through which this narrative can be charted, and the planet alluded to within the narrative itself.

Do not dream… (2021) is one fifth of a body of works - which each take the perspective and/or experience of a main character within the growing narrative of Youterus. 

Through chant and trance, Do not dream… (2021) teases the unfolding of future mysteries within Youterus. As fate and faith would have it, the work echoes the thoughts and feelings of this character as it goes along - setting a virtual stage for their current intentions and later behaviours, whether coalesced or not...

Youterus is both the interactive map through which this narrative can be charted, and the planet alluded to within the narrative itself.

Hijra = Higher (2021) is one fifth of a body of works - which each take the perspective and/or experience of a main character within the growing narrative of Youterus. 

Through use of archival, personal and community footage, Hijra = Higher (2021) caresses the wonders of South Asia’s Hijra community - and offers allusions to a character whose identity reflects a similar sparkle and sorcery as the narrative unfolds.  

Youterus is both the interactive map through which this narrative can be charted, and the planet alluded to within the narrative itself.

Pump Organ (2021) is one fifth of a body of works - which each take the perspective and/or experience of a main character within the growing narrative of Youterus. 

Channelling the direct experience of this character, Pump Organ (2021) presents a journey of caste through music as: ritual, rite of passage and relief. Through the playing of instruments and alluding of tunes, this work gives insight into what it means to be ‘of service’. 

Youterus is both the interactive map through which this narrative can be charted, and the planet alluded to within the narrative itself.

The Desperate and the Degraded (2021) is one fifth of a body of works - which each take the perspective and/or experience of a main character within the growing narrative of Youterus. 

Highlighting the very real situation of caste within South Asia, The Desperate and the Degraded (2021) examines the way in which caste groups are defined by occupation, and the severity of the occupations themselves. 

Youterus is both the interactive map through which this narrative can be charted, and the planet alluded to within the narrative itself.

Effigy-burning in South Asia is an act of: protest. performance. liberation. screaming. anger. frustration. point-making. cremation. rebirth. pride. objection. time~pass. desperation. of cleansing.

It's also deemed v much an environmental nuisance by some, an unnecessarily violet mode of protest by others, or simply a process that's slowly exhausting itself of impact and message through its own overuse.

This 3D model, and the animation depicting the burn of it, considers these emotions as it stands tall in stature whilst attempting to digitally set fire to itself at the same time. 

A PODCAST ABOUT SHREK & SUBTEXT. WE ARE: SEEMA MATTU & ZARINA MUHAMMAD, TWO BUDDING SHREKSPERTS WITH A PASSION FOR OGLING THE OGRE. JOIN US & COME OGRE HERE!

Use this map to navigate around SEEMAWORLD. 

Reclaiming the slur commonly used for low-caste persons, this band of misfits and music exist inside the narrative(s) of Youterus. As stories unfold, their position will be shown to tow the line between music as religion and music outside of it.

A character who exists inside the future narrative(s) of Youterus, through which the archetype of the 'queer villain' shall be explored and tampered with. 

Effigy-burning in South Asia is an act of: protest. performance. liberation. screaming. anger. frustration. point-making. cremation. rebirth. pride. objection. time~pass. desperation. of cleansing.

It's also deemed v much an environmental nuisance by some, an unnecessarily violet mode of protest by others, or simply a process that's slowly exhausting itself of impact and message through its own overuse.

This animation, and the 3D model of it standing on guard, considers these emotions as it stands tall in stature whilst attempting to digitally set fire to itself at the same time. 

An excerpt of Against the Madness of Manu which focusses specifically on the process of Endogamy as an underpinning structure of caste - and insight into how this might inform explorations inside SEEMAWORLD.

An excerpt of Dalit: The Black Untouchables of India [combines] "the essentials of Marxism and the philosophy of the late Dr B.R. Ambedkar into a new indigenous political philosophy to clarify the caste-class struggle in India."

Particularly interesting, is the discourse around links between Africa and Asia: "The history of the African presence in anicent Asia is said to span thousands of year, yet it remains one of the least documented aspects of the global African experience." In line with this, a foreword is provided by Y.N. Kly and and introductory overview is given by Runoko Rashidi. 

The Temple of Doe houses the essence of this character. Go further into her sphere for more.

The Temple of Sai houses the essence of this character. Go further into her sphere for more.

The Temple of Heir houses the essence of this character. Go further into her sphere for more.

The Temple of Furora houses the essence of this character. Go further into her sphere for more.