Bow Families: stains as archives of cultures and joy, printing with turmeric with Ayesha Sureya
Sunday 22nd February 2026 , 11:00am to 1:00pm
Join artist and designer Ayesha Sureya for a vibrant, sensory workshop inspired by stains as cultural archives. Using spices such as turmeric, children and families will transform everyday ingredients into natural pigments to print, stain and decorate fabric, creating your own wearable art. Open to children and families of all ages – all materials provided!
Inspired by Laisul Hoque’s East London Art Prize shortlisted work, An Ode to All the Flavours (2024), an installation resembling a yellow-glowed ‘Bangladeshi sweet shop’, children will join a vibrant, sensory workshop inspired by food stains as cultural archives. Using spices such as turmeric, children and families will transform everyday ingredients into natural pigments to print, stain and decorate fabric.
In this workshop, children will learn a wide range of skills in dyeing, staining, and simple block-printing techniques to create wearable pieces — from patches for T-shirts to necklaces — that celebrate shared moments, traditions, and personal stories. Food and objects become memory-holders, carrying traces of joy, care, and connection.
This event is an inclusive, friendly environment which is accessible to all abilities and age groups.
Bow Families is a series of free, drop-in family art workshops that take place on the last Sunday of every month in the Bow Arts Courtyard. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity for local families to get creative and try something new! Each session is led by a Bow Arts’ Artist and all materials are provided.
More about Ayesha Sureya
Ayesha is an interdisciplinary artist and facilitator born and raised in London. Drawing on their background as a jeweller, their practice and research with plant, mineral and body life function as a methodology for exploring devotional craft practices and unsettling empirical readings of history. Their work takes shape at the intersections of metal, textiles, technology, sound, moving image and text.
As an educator, Ayesha shares their creative practice with elders, young people, and children, inviting collaboration, play, and expressive exchange through making workshops, panel discussions and informal conversations. Their workshops are usually informed by knowledge and practices from the Global South, particularly South Asia. Their work seeks to bridge local and global contexts, honour folk knowledge as central to learning, and unsettle hierarchies between art and craft.
They have produced, curated and participated in residencies, workshops and talks at Blackhorse Workshop (UK), Arebyte × Goldsmiths University (UK), Morley College Metal Scholarship (UK), Al.ter (IN), Crafts Council (UK), Goldsmiths Centre (UK) and the University of Gothenburg (SE).
Access information
The Bow Arts Trust courtyard room has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system. Accessible parking is not available on-site.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!
Transport Information
Opening hours: Mon-Friday, 9am to 5pm
Address: Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.
