Rangoli of Yelahanka
2018
artist's book
3 volumes in multi-volume slipcase
hardcover
digital color print
26.5 x 19 x 6 cm
edition 2/2
Rangoli are ephemeral, symmetrical drawings created by women in parts of India, typically in entrance areas. Patterns and techniques are transmitted through oral tradition and visual demonstration. Most rangoli are based on dot grids, with lines following these grids to form regular shapes.
Using daily photographs of these drawings collected over several months in the Yelahanka neighborhood, the GPS coordinates of each rangoli were recorded. The paths between these points were then visualized on a map of the area.
The resulting map, with its traced paths, appears to disrupt symmetry, while still echoing the forms of the rangoli. The mapping, along with the approximately 1,700 photographs, was compiled into a three-volume book and donated to the neighborhood public library.
