Arpita Shah’s Nalini explores motherhood, migration, heritage and the connections between generations through the stories of the artist, her mother and her grandmother.

Developed across India, East Africa and the UK, the photographic series grew from Shah’s desire to understand more about the experiences and relationships of the women in her family.

The exhibition brings together 26 photographic works alongside family photographs and personal objects including dried flowers and traditional saris. Its title comes from Shah’s grandmother, Nalini, meaning ‘lotus’ in Sanskrit, with flowers recurring throughout the work as the artist explores family, femininity, memory and cultural identity.

Nalini runs at Firstsite until Sunday 4 October 2026.

Admission is free and no booking is required.

Firstsite is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 10pm, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays.