Dr. Nina Mangalanayagam

Biography

Nina Mangalanayagam is a senior lecturer in Photography at HDK-Valand, University of Gothenburg. She holds a Master's degree in Photography from the Royal College of Art and a PhD by practice from the University of Westminster. With years of experience based in London and Gothenburg, Nina has held positions at notable institutions including Camberwell College of Arts and the London College of Communication. Her artistic practice focuses on themes of hybridity, employing a semi-autobiographical approach to explore heritage, race, and belonging, particularly in relation to colonial histories and photographic traditions. Her work has been widely exhibited both in the UK and internationally, including venues such as the Whitechapel Art Gallery and Colombo Biennale. Currently, Nina is engaged in a three-year artistic research project titled "Colouring-In Sweden," funded by the Swedish Research Council, which centers on stories of women in Swedish colonial histories. This project examines the colonial history of St. Barthelémy, a former Swedish colony. In addition to her exhibitions, she has collaborated on research projects examining the intersection of photography and botany, and her contributions to the field include co-curating exhibitions and participating in notable conferences and publications.

Research Interests