Kolusu is part of a series of works investigating how Tessa Dahlmann’s Indian and American culture overlap in her search for identity and belonging, as a young 3rd generation immigrant. In this piece the artist juxtaposes Kolusu (anklets), cultural heirlooms from her grandmother, with a white Nike sneaker, a trend of the American, Gen Z zeitgeist. The sound of the bells on the Kolusu evoke a sense of nostalgia, bringing to mind the sound of her grandmother’s rhythmic footsteps.
The anklet bearing limbs in the foreground form a frame around the sneaker, reminiscent of the windows created in the compositions of Indian miniature paintings. The artist creates further contrast by separating the footwear into two different textural environments. The bare feet with the Kolusu dance atop a smooth, draped fabric printed with a design from one of her grandmother’s Kurtas. Peeking out from beneath the fabric, and on the same plane as the sneaker, is the rough, urban pavement of a college apartment. This blending of fashion and place parallels Tessa’s own identity and signifies a reconnection with her roots.
