The Scrawny Beauties of Ethni City is Seema Mattu’s first solo exhibition, and a deep dive into SEEMAWORLD – an immersive, multi-channel realm and future streaming facility. With a specific interest in lo-fi high fantasy storytelling, SEEMAWORLD is framed as a theme park, and explores systems of caste, queer sorcery, fan labour and how gender is classified through digital technologies. Through mixed-media animation, IRL (In Real Life) environment-building, audience interactivity, audio installations, visual spectacle and trickster vibes, The Scrawny Beauties of Ethni City embarks on the origins of SEEMAWORLD’s ongoing, unfolding caste-centric narrative, Engodamy. This is a play on the term endogamy, which refers to the custom of marrying within one’s own group. Engodamy is set in the world-built world, Youterus – and, alongside its main inhabitants, places you at the mind and soul of its oldest city: Ethni City.

Seema Mattu Biography

Seema Mattu is a Valmiki world-building trickster, whose practice is framed as a theme park – known as SEEMAWORLD. Recent projects include work with: Berwick Film and Media Festival; IKON gallery; Eastside Projects; New Art City; Blindspot Gallery and QUAD. In April 2022, she completed both Film London’s FLAMIN Fellowship and a year-long residency with Wysing Arts Centre in March 2023. In December 2021, Seema became QUAD International Digital Fellow, leading to her first major solo show in Autumn 2023.