The Hookah, the Shawl, and the Paisley Pattern

Uncovering common histories

Museum objects were once everyday items, but it can be hard to imagine their original context when seeing them as carefully conserved and displayed artefacts. Join Suchitra Choudhury as she reconsiders three popular objects on display within our Scottish Design Galleries: the hookah, the oriental shawl and the printed Paisley pattern.

These objects share a common history, though they appear 'Oriental'* in origin and influence, they were all made by nineteenth-century Scots; Suchitra unpicks this history and explores what these objects meant to the people and society of the time.

From global policies to the Caterpillar in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland; Suchitra explores the stories that these objects tell, and the stories that they inspire.

Suchitra Choudhury, Research Fellow 2020 supported by The William Lind Foundation at the University of Glasgow, is an independent scholar who specialises in English literature associated with India and the way in which they negotiate material culture, especially textiles. Suchitra Choudhury is a contributing member of V&A Dundee’s Scottish Design Galleries Advisory Group.

This event will have BSL interpretation.

*Oriental: In this case relating to, or coming from, what was defined at the time as 'the East', specifically Asia.

Times

13:00 - 14:00

Location Online

Free

BSL interpreted

Generic background for Membership promo module

Membership

V&A Dundee Membership enables you to visit our changing exhibitions time and time again

Be the first to get the latest news from V&A Dundee.

Join our newsletter and be the first to know about the latest exhibitions, events and activities.