Artist and founding member of Rich Mix, Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, brings her famous neon artworks to Rich Mix, the east London art centre in Bethnal Green, for a free exhibition from Friday 19 May – Wednesday 7 June 2023.

Previously featured on the façade of Tate Britain for their 2020 Winter Commission remembering a brave new world in Covent Garden’s Market Building in 2021 and in a number of other high profile commissions, a selection of Burman’s beloved neon lights will now be on display, minutes from Brick Lane and Shoreditch High Street, where visitors can view up-close the multicolour installations combining Hindu mythology, British iconography, Bollywood glamour, colonial history and childhood memories.

Born in Bootle, Liverpool, Burman’s Punjabi heritage is a key theme across her printmaking, drawing, painting, installation and filmmaking, combining her Indian roots with references to both Indian and Western popular culture. The exhibition will include 3k Heart, Bindi and Neons, Standing Krishna with Flute and Punjabi Rockers, in a collection that delves into Indian myths and customs, alongside childhood memories of family visits to the Blackpool Illuminations.

As a founding member and current Trustee of Rich Mix, Burman’s works will be hung in the art centre’s Streetside Space (formerly Indi-go restaurant) for a family-friendly exhibition with free entry – no tickets required. Refreshments will be available from the bar, serving soft drinks, hot drinks and alcoholic drinks.

Chila Kumari Singh Burman said:

“As a patron and founding member of Rich Mix, I’m excited to see my neon artworks displayed at the venue I have nurtured since it opened back in 2006. I’m looking forward to seeing my neons in my east London home – a mashup of colour and kitsch – many of which are from my Tate Britain commission. Come on down and see them after their travels around the world.”

Judith Kilvington, Rich Mix CEO, said:

“We’re honoured to have Chila’s neon artworks featured here at Rich Mix in our new Streetside space, so Londoners can see her intricate creations up-close and reflect on her incredible use of symbolism and memory to discuss heritage and personal histories. It’s a special moment for Rich Mix as we honour Chila’s dedication to our arts centre over the years.”