Chai is a spiced tea drink native to South Asia; a staple in the daily routine of the entire subcontinent and a symbol of comfort, hospitality, and home. This soothing drink, however, has dark roots in colonial slavery, overlooked by foreign audiences for whom the drink is marketed as "Chai Tea Latte," a substandard rendition of an item of historic tradition. This westernized "Chai Tea Latte" is a metaphor for the identities and cultures of South Asian individuals: Misappreciated. Misappropriated. Misunderstood.
Chai Tea Latte aspires to challenge the mainstream reduction of the multifaceted identities of South Asians by deeply and authentically representing their community. The work examines the relationships between students and their nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures, either by reviving memories of home or critically engaging with conflicts of tradition. Although the space is visually and conceptually nostalgic for South Asians, it is a novel environment to an outside audience, one that educates them about a foreign world. The exhibit houses work by both South Asian-American and international students, and conveys individual experiences such as staying rooted, being ostracized, or critiquing the societies that have shaped one as a person. It further dwells into the cross-cultural narratives explored by artists of color as students in the United States. Surpassing barriers of majors and disciplines, the show becomes unified as a body of work that depicts a broad spectrum of South Asian experiences. Chai Tea Latte aims to provide a true expression of our artists' identities, highlighting their South Asian heritage and dispelling stereotypes that have surrounded our cultures for generations.
Despite each piece's personal origins, Chai Tea Latte comes together to make a global statement about the importance of race, representation, and proper expression of South Asian Students in America. It connects a very personal selection of work as a means of creating a sense of community and encouraging discussion around issues of culture and identity.
Siddharth Thuppil ID 22
