Indian-origin women weave floral memories through the ‘Gul Collective’ initiative

In this podcast, speaking with SBS Hindi, Western Sydney artists Alisha Mehra and Anamika share the stories of flowers that hold deep personal significance. They explained how the Gul Collective evolved into a space for sharing diverse traditional textile techniques, cultures and friendship.

Artists of Gul Collective - Alisha Mehra (left) and Anamika (Right) Source: Supplied / Yamane Fayed

Reflecting on a series of collaborative workshops of Gul Collective, Alisha Mehra and Anamika said that it was a space for connecting with personal and cultural histories.

Alisha Mehra at the Gul Collective workshop Source: Supplied / Yamane Fayed

Reminiscing about her memories of flowers and plants from the various places she calls home, Mehra said, “The hibiscus flower has always been close to my heart — from my grandfather growing it in our garden, to offering it in prayers, or even tucking it into my hair. This project felt like reliving childhood memories.”

Artist Anamika at Gul Collective Workshop Source: Supplied / Yamane Fayed

Anamika, who has learned various traditional art forms including Madhubani, said, “Gul Collective is about the connections between plants, flowers, memory, and culture. It was an opportunity to grow and refine my artistic skills.”

The Gul Collective, an initiative of Arts and Cultural Exchange (ACE) in Parramatta, NSW, was established in 2023 to explore multicultural histories through traditional textile techniques.

Multicultural women, inspired by plant stories from their lives and heritage, created textile-based artworks.

Their work was exhibited at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney in May 2025.

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