Holding Pattern

H15’ x dia 4’, Pigmented Daphne and cotton fibers.

Emotions cannot be held on to; they arise, leave their mark, and then fade away. Their transient nature creates a longing to experience them repeatedly, especially the positive ones. This desire leads to a cycle of trying to return to those moments again and again, resulting in the feeling of being caught in a loop.

The work "Holding Pattern" evokes this repetitive behavior metaphorically by rotating around a central axis. It also alludes to airplanes going around in circles, neither landing nor taking off. There are also allusions to merry-go-rounds, Buddhist chants, and prayer wheels.

The Kannada text used in the work explores a wide range of human emotions. Normally, paper is used to write about emotions, but here paper becomes an actual visual element. Text becomes part of the form, creating a porous entity, like our body and mind. Crafted from pigmented daphne and cotton fibers, it foregrounds the tactile and material qualities of handmade paper, creating an ephemeral experience. The delicate quality of paper becomes a metaphor for the vulnerability of emotions themselves.

Link to video which shows the work in movement: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ygoFhmDhEf4