Roots of Flavours
This piece reimagines roots not only as physical structures beneath the surface, but as vessels of memory—porous, searching, and absorptive.
At its core is the idea that the body absorbs the world as roots draw minerals from the soil: unknowingly, silently, and continuously.
Each gelatin capsule functions as a sealed micro-experience, carrying elements that flavor life—fragments of nourishment gathered over time.
Recycled sari yarn woven into select roots pays homage to the ancient wisdom of Indian women and the spiritual legacy of the Indian subcontinent, birthplace of the Buddha and one of humanity’s earliest civilizations.
Visually, the work unfolds through two intersecting currents: a vertical stream suggesting descent and flow, and a horizontal axis marked by capsules and brass—signaling emergence and offering.
The Roots of Flavours reflects not only a kitchen’s quiet alchemy, but the broader human process of transformation: how we ingest, filter, store, and carry the world within us.
Year 2025
Size 185 × 150 cm (73 × 59 in)
Media and Technique Gelatin capsules, acrylic paint, mineral pigment, dried mini flowers, brass coil, washers, brass strip, gel mediums on wooden panel.
Thousands of empty gelatin capsules were filled, sealed, and hand-adhered onto a calico-mounted wood panel. Color layers were subtly adjusted through dry pigment and acrylic paint prior to embedding. The capsules were placed in directional flow—gently coiling and dispersing—evoking an organic root-like network. Variations in gloss, texture, and translucency were created using different medium concentrations and brushing techniques to allow sunlight to react differently across the surface throughout the day.