ELEMENTAL

Emphasizing the interconnection between humans, their cultures and the natural world, this work challenges the concept of the nature-culture divide. It presents different traditions practiced in the western regions of India, where elements of nature are infused with symbolic meaning.

At the top is the ritual of Kandanar Kelan, where fire is seen as an element of protection and purification. Follows Shri Birdev Yatra, a celebration of farming communities, where turmeric (gift of the earth) symbolizes fertility and healing. And at the bottom is Kotiteertha, a sacred pond, where water is considered holy and represents cleansing of both body and mind. And the fourth side of the square here, represents air.

This work critiques the nature-culture divide, which fosters disconnection, creates hierarchies, and blinds us to the environmental consequences of our actions. In contrast, it offers a spiritual perspective that portrays the intimate and inseparable relationship between humans and nature. Additionally, it challenges the idea of ‘anthropocentrism’ showing, how traditional practices never saw nature as a separate entity. Rather, these elements were respected as integral, living forces—not dominated nor controlled, as they often are today.