Me Myself, 2008

Recognised for her sculptural installations and photography, Hema Upadhyay was a contemporary Indian artist whose work often commented on social themes and political matters such as war and immigration. One of her most recognized works, Made in China, was created as a commentary on globalisation and mass consumerism and an analysis of the loss of identity that results from these themes. Upadhyay often used found materials within her installations and acknowledged that a lot of the chaos within her work actually came from within the built-up city that she inhabited – she remarked: “It’s a double-edged condition when you see development in the making – you see growth but decay.” Upadhyay’s life was cut tragically short, allegedly due to a financial and legal dispute, but she has continued to receive recognition even after her untimely death.