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“In every heart lies the seed of wisdom; when watered with love and understanding, it grows into enlightenment.” - Kabir
The distillation of an idea, an abstract thought, like the complexity of geometry, is transformative. Just as the seed is nurtured into a stronger form, the creative process necessitates crystallising the idea. The purity of the form is drawn from the simplicity of the cosmos. Geometry and rhythm guide this stage, where the point becomes a line, and the concept takes shape. This distillation in textiles is seen in the deliberate choices of patterns, materials, and textures that express clarity. The idea mirrors the process, where the excess is removed, and the core concept becomes clearer. The threads, once raw and undefined, are now woven into a cohesive form, mirroring how the artist strips away what isn’t needed, to reveal the true essence of the idea.
The artists in this section explore this process of distillation, where complex ideas are refined into clear, essential forms, embodying abstraction and purity. Sabiha Dohadwala captures fleeting memories and histories through abstraction, transforming visual and emotional moments into essential forms in her works Crammed Between the Cracks. Arvind Sundar, in Net of Drowning Insecurities, Let Us Read, Let Us Dance, and Tonight, I Am Drowning, engages with the geometry of the grid, transforming complex spatial relationships into dynamic abstractions that challenge conventional perceptions. Riddhi Patel’s Floss of the Time explores the ephemeral and infinite, using repeated lines to evoke a rhythmic purity, distilling her personal experiences and energy into a meditative sense of stillness and transcendence.
Arshi Ahmadzai strips away societal and political layers, revealing the personal and collective stories of marginalised women through the written word in her work titled Al-khansa aur Ret ke hazaar zarro ko paani me pirona. The Saurashtra Moti Kaam Torans, a symbol of auspiciousness features minute seed-like beadwork that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics in its crisp simplicity and timelessness.
