A solo exhibition of textile sculptures, collage, sound, and film, that addresses the impact of colonialism, migration and patriarchy.

Co-commissioned by Exeter Phoenix and Phoenix Art Space (Brighton) the exhibition follows two years of intensive research to uncover the facts behind the story of the artist’s Great Aunt – the first Indian woman to be sentenced to be hanged in British colonial Kenya 1949.

A series of immersive sculptural installations, including the iconic sculpture Killer Queen, are made from materials related to the ‘women’s work’ her great aunt conducted whilst in prison. These are presented alongside soundscapes based on original audio recordings of Gurdwara prayers and South Asian female performers. Rana-Allen’s powerful new film Sing Her to Me includes original footage shot in Kenya and the UK, interspersed with evocative family archive material, to build a rich tapestry of imagery, sound and text.

The exhibition addresses issues of gender, race, female violence, colonialism, migration and patriarchy, and invites audiences to explore the narratives that both connect and uncouple communities.