As the Earth uncurls

WORK STATEMENT

Taking visual notes from the landscapes of the Silk Route, at the heart of this work is movement, solitude and the play of light and shadow. The concave nature of these forms is to suggest a kind of an ‘uncurling’ or ‘opening’. There is a delicate tenderness is choosing to give up one’s cocoon of security, to open up and allow the world in. I use this concavity of the sculptures as a metaphor for the opening-up of previously closed societies and cultures, as facilitated by the exchange of new ideas and goods on the Silk Route. Another offshoot of the concept is related to tea. Originating in China, tea became one of the most sought-after goods exchanged along this ancient network of trade routes. Tea has a fascinating history and I find many of its facets, conceptually intriguing. It stands for transformation and change as the process of brewing tea is one of alchemy that turns water and tea leaves into the elixir that is tea. Known, not only for its medicinal and cultural significance, tea is also credited for acting like social glue. Drinking tea together is a social practice in many cultures which fosters connections. For these reasons, I wanted to incorporate tea into the work. For this, post-firing, the work has been stained with tea prepared from black tea, and saffron amongst other ingredients. Not only does it give the work some sheen but it also signifies a sense of transformation and connection.