In the Eye of a Dream is a multimedia exhibition by Kinnari Saraiya. Through it she explores how colonial powers used anthropology to study and control native populations by analysing collected dreams for signs of rebellion. Saraiya’s work reimagines these by drawing on indigenous perspectives that view dreams as gateways to alternate realities and transformative experiences. 

The exhibition weaves together textiles, interactive installations, and a traveling cinema to blend historical archives with imaginative fiction. Saraiya transforms hand-embroidered Jacquard loom punch cards and lotus seeds into touch interactive controllers, allowing the viewer to explore digital realms inhabited by animated characters. The stories of these characters unfold through dance, choreographed in collaboration with Indian classical performers.

By dissolving boundaries between the material and the virtual, In the Eye of a Dream reclaims the dreamscape as a decolonial archive and transforms the gallery into a richly imagined and exploratory space. 

In the Eye of a Dream is co-presented with Brighton Festival, as part of their 2025 programme.

Please be aware that this exhibition includes a presentation of research done in the early 20^th century which uses language that contemporary audiences may find upsetting.

Kinnari Saraiya (b. 1998, Bombay) is an artist and curator, combining digital worldbuilding, expanded film and installation to explore decolonial, feminist and ecological imaginaries through biomechanical storytelling. 

Find the Artist:

Website: https://www.kinnarisaraiya.com/

Instagram: @kinnarisaraiya

Exhibition events

Kinnari Saraiya in conversation

Saturday 31 May, 2pm

Kinnari Saraiya is joined by artist and academic Dr Irene Fubara-Manuel for a moderated ‘in conversation’ event exploring each of their creative practices and the challenges and opportunities of making work that draws on research done in colonial archives.

Dr Irene Fubara-Manuel is based at the University of Sussex where they are a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Practice and their research focus is on (post)colonial technoculture. They are also a creative practitioner, experimenting with games, animation, 3D visualisation and creative coding.

In 2024, during their residency at ONCA Gallery, they created the exhibition ibi minji faari (translated from Kalabari Ijo: “the good water is going away”) an exploration of the riverine landscapes of the oil-producing region of Nigeria—the Niger Delta.

This conversation will be moderated by Laurence Hill, the curator of In the Eye of a Dream

This event is free, but booking is recommended.

Artist credits

Classical dancers: Vishrut and Payal Ramchandani

Sound: Bhagyalakshmi Guruvar with musicians …

Developer support: Matt Hutchings

Engineering support: Terry Saraiya-Tran and Harsh Saraiya-Tran

Research and ideation with Rupal Saraiya and Pankaj Saraiya

With thanks for support from Frieze, Deutsche Bank, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Mechatronic Library for the Bioscope

Phoenix Art Space credits

Exhibition Technician: Leonardo Lami

BSL interpreter: Sue MacLaine

Window vinyls: SAS Graphics

Print: One Digital