Annu Palakunnathu Matthew used photography, digital media, and self-portraiture to challenge historical narratives embedded in colonial archives. By placing herself within recreated historical images, she questioned assumptions about race, identity, representation, and power. Her work explored the overlooked connections between South Asian and Native American histories while exposing how photography had been used to construct cultural stereotypes. Through exhibitions, publications, and public engagement, Matthew expanded conversations about historical memory and visual representation, demonstrating how contemporary artists could reinterpret the archive to recover more complex and inclusive histories.
