Artist Sukanya Mani uses everyday materials to tell immigrant and refugee women’s stories

Reported by STLPR

The journey of interdisciplinary artist Sukanya Mani began with pieces of hand-cut paper.

Combined with lengths of saris, she used the pieces to tell compelling stories about the challenging experiences of immigrant and refugee women.

“When I cut paper out and install it from the ceiling, the balance and the way the artwork is suspended is playing with gravity,” Mani said. “And the way I light it, there are multiple shadows playing with reflected light, refracted light and shadows and so on.”

Earlier this year, Mani was named the 2025 St. Louis Visionary Awards community impact

artist. Instead of painting or using another two-dimensional form, she addresses women’s experiences of motherhood in installations that intertwine her artwork with scientific concepts from her academic background in biology, chemistry and physics... Listen to the full story here