Art Gene presents MOTHERLAND, a solo exhibition by British South Asian artist, Azraa Motala, featuring works developed through her Catalyst* residency in Cumbria.

Drawing on her experiences of living in the South Lakes, Motala explores the complex relationship between Britain’s rural landscapes, its colonial history and the communities that call Cumbria home. Her work brings together personal memories, family histories and wider questions of representation, challenging narrow ideas of Britishness and belonging.

For Motala, the Lake District is a landscape of both beauty and contradiction. Its mountains, lakes and rural communities evoke memories of her grandparents’ home in India, while her experiences as a British South Asian Muslim woman reveal the challenges of living in a region where cultural and religious spaces can be difficult to access.

Through painting and a multidisciplinary practice, Motala examines how historical narratives continue to influence contemporary attitudes towards migration, race and national identity. Her most recent work responds to local experiences, including tensions surrounding the construction of a new South Lakes Islamic Centre, raising questions about who is welcomed and represented within Britain.

MOTHERLAND brings personal and political narratives together, inviting audiences to look beyond the familiar image of the English landscape and consider the particular histories and communities that shape it.

Opening night: Thursday 19 November 2026, 6:30 – 9pm

Exhibition runs until 30 January 2027, 12 – 4pm

Closed Suns & Mons; Closed Sat 5 Dec; Closed 19 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027, incl.

Free admission. All welcome.