Ayushi Rajput

About

Hi,

Growing up, I navigated a linguistic labyrinth. Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi, and the smattering of others – a constant juggling act in a world where languages clashed and melded. Cramming my thoughts and emotions into a single language when I first came to London, felt like forcing a square peg into a round hole.

So, when Martin Heidegger said, “Language is Home of the Being,” it struck a discordant note, because my home was more like a bustling train station, with languages rushing in and out.

Through the course of this year, I researched such experiences to look into the complexity of the daily act of code switching, crossing cultures, and the communication challenges that stem from migration. Through performance, photography, writing, weaving, and curation, I examine the challenges and possibilities inherent in code-switching and cultural translation. My aim is to foster a dialogue that acknowledges the richness and complexity of our multilingual, multicultural world, working towards a future where diversity is celebrated and understood.

I’m Ayushi Rajput, a storyteller, curator and a graphic designer based in London with roots in Delhi. My practice investigates the connections between language, identity, and communication, focusing on the liminal experiences of diaspora and migration. Previously, I’ve worked with 1947 Partition Archive, India Art Fair, Apple and been a part of the National Geographic Photo Camp.