Histogram Histories

Currently installed at the Oliver Woods Community Centre in beautiful Nanaimo, BC, Histogram Histories!

The Hands that Braid

Artist:  Kiranjot Kaur 
Location:  Chilliwack Museum and Archives
Category:  Solo Exhibition
Year: 2025

I inherited a bag of trims. She used them to improve her clothing and some household items. She figured I could use them and if I was able to use them, I wouldn’t waste them. “Put them on the kids’ clothing,” she said, “you sew, you’ll know what to do.” She would even remove trim before discarding a well-loved outfit. Out of love, I took it. Out of devotion I laid down my thinking at her feet and allowed myself- begged myself- to accept hers. I made things out of scraps now to re-purpose, carry on a tradition. This skill is a gift of the matriarchy. Recycling is like harvesting and growing seeds.

The Hands that Braid is an art project that explores the connections between symbols of wealth, ornamentation, and love — and how these connections are shown through the relationships between people and objects. The series begins by looking at the traditional purpose of ornamentation among Panjabi women. Through the process of making art, it searches for a new purpose — an effort to reconnect with a lost bond to the matriarchy. By using materials like silk scraps, gota, metal wires, parandi, fabrics, paintings, and embroidery threads, the work reflects on    these ideas and remembers a tradition passed down through generations — one full of resourcefulness and care.

Artist:  Kiranjot Kaur 
Location:  King George & 72^nd Street
Category:  Civic Collection – Utility Boxes
Year: 2023

“Things” Utility Box Art

“Things” is a series of ink drawings exploring the flow of objects naturally formed by the artist’s hand when doodling, with an intention to manifest beauty. The objects often take the appearance of patterns reminiscent of jewelry and three-dimensional embroidery, influenced by the artist’s Panjabi clothing and accessories. The series aims to integrate abstract floral representation with living flowers and vines in a winding, connected display, defining ornamentation from a human perspective. The piece was initially hand-drawn, scanned, and then digitally colored for the large-scale display.