Tile as Archive

This installation was dedicated to Soi’s continuing engagement with the atelier of the craftsman Fayaz Jan in Srinagar. A hundred handmade papier-mâché tiles were arranged in a square. Keeping in mind that knowledge of patterns and designs the craftsmen use are passed on orally, Soi conceptualised this work as an archive of the patterns, borders and floral tropes used within their compositions. An illustration from Da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus was drawn on the wall by Soi in response to his interaction with Kashmiri craftsmen. The diagram explained the optical phenomena of anamorphosis.

The work was featured as part of the exhibition 'Notes on Labour' by Praneet Soi. The exhibition was curated by Tasneem Zakaria Mehta and showcased Soi's works created over periods of extensive engagement with artisans in Kolkata, Srinagar, and Guangzhou in China.