embroidery
Bhangal aims to expand her knowledge and skillset as a textile artist by exploring different forms of South Asian embroidery. Currently, she is specializing in Phulkari but her pieces are not limited to Phulkari. With her artistic journey, Bhangal has developed a signature Phulkari style that is present in all her work. Her pieces feature motifs such as flowers, petals, diamonds, miniature dots, and lines.
from left to right
first row
Tanzania, Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Italy, Sweden
second row
Australia, Uganda, The United States of America, Kenya, Canada, The Philippines
third row
United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Guyana, Norway, Germany, England
Extended Kin
organic cotton
2025
27 x 25
The bounds of Punjab go beyond a border. Our ties to Punjab aren’t solely to its land but also to its people. The Punjabi diaspora is growing in every part of the world and even though the distance grows, our love and pride for Punjab also grows. The dual identities of the Punjabi diaspora is something that should be celebrated; there is beauty in honoring your ancestry but we shouldn’t minimize ourselves to fit societal boxes. We can exist in multiple worlds because when we close our minds, we close connections, which is unlike Punjab. Punjab is like a warm embrace and just as the land of Punjab welcomes all with open arms, its people treat everyone like kin, weaving a tapestry of connection that transcends borders. We find familiarity in stranger’s faces and call them brother, sister, mother, father, and friend.
Each Phulkari design represents a country with a large population of Punjabi individuals; their design and colour-way has been inspired by their respective flags.
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Gulabo
organic cotton
2025
35 x 35
Gulabo is inspired by the Gulabi (pink) Gang in India. The Gulabi Gang is a female vigilante group in India which is dedicated to empowering women of all castes and protecting them from domestic violence, sexual violence, oppression, political corruption and the oppression of lower caste individuals, specifically Dalits “The Untouchables”. The group currently consists of 250,000+ women. The member’s can be identified through their pink saris.
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Mere Haath / My Hands
organic cotton
14 x 11
2025
Mobility is a privilege, and to have the ability to create anything and everything is a beautiful honour. An integral aspect of Bhangal’s work is acknowledging the beauty and dedication of handmade craftsmanship.
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Doaba Wale
organic cotton
5.5 x 6
2025
Punjab/Panjab consists of 3 regions and Doaba lies between the Beas River and the Satluj River. Doaba is nestled in between the two neighbouring regions, Majha and Malwa. Bhangal’s Father hails from Nawanshahr, which is one out of three districts.
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Majha Wale
organic cotton
7 x 7
2025
Punjab/Panjab is divided into three regions, and Majha lies between the Beas and Ravi Rivers. It makes up the upper part of Punjab on East Punjab/Panjab.
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Malwa Wale
organic cotton
8 x 5
2025
Punjab/Panjab is divided into three regions, and Malwa is located south of the Sutlej river. Malwa is the Southern region in East Punjab/Panjab. Malwa is culturally and historically a different region of Punjab, with its own culture and language, Malwai Punjabi. Bhangal’s mother hails from Ludhiana.
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5 Rivers
organic cotton
15 x 31
2025
Punjab/Panjab stands for the Land of Five Rivers. Five major rivers that flow through the region: the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers. All of these rivers are tributaries of the Indus River. This piece is commemorated to the state of Punjab/Panjab. 5 Rivers consists of 5 consistent colours that represent each river. Each river is honoured through one small detail.
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Severed
organic cotton
13 x 13
2025
Severed is acknowledging the bloodshed that had occurred during The Partition of India. The Punjabi/Panjabi community is still impacted by The Partition till date and this piece honours all the lives that were lost during this political and societal shift.
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Shades of Chand
organic cotton
12 x 12
2025
Shades of Chand is commemorated to Bhangal’s experiences and trauma with colourism. Chand means moon in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi/Panjabi. The piece is void of colour and strictly consists of neutrals to represent the various shades of Bhangal’s skin colour.
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Sycamore
linen
2025
Bhangal had the pleasure of attending Ekta Kaul’s ‘Kantha’ workshop. Kantha is a traditional form of stitch and embroidered textile art from rural South Asia, particularly Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha, The word "kanths" can mean "patched cloth' or refer to the unique, simple running stitch used to create these textiles.
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Home is Turtle Island
organic cotton
2025
Bhangal’s parents immigrated to Canada in the 90s and have been able to build a beautiful life on Turtle Island also known as Canada. The Punjabi community has a lot of respect for land and Bhangal finds it a priority to acknowledge Indigenous land and communities. As a daughter of immigrants and diasporic individual she believes knowledge, compassion and awareness are necessary to build solidarity.
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