Pallavi Padukone

Reminiscent

The work explores the relationship of living in an urban environment and craving the sensorial experience of being amidst nature. My collection ‘Reminiscent’ allowed me to reconnect with nature on a sensorial level even while being confined to my apartment, following the outbreak of COVID-19. The sense of smell is a powerful catalyst to trigger memories and feelings of calm and comfort. Reinterpreting the fragrance industry, I use textiles as aroma therapy to condense time and distance and create an immersive experience to reconnect with nature and nostalgia. Through a collection of wall hangings, tapestries, wrappings and room dividers that stimulates the senses beyond sight with a feeling of familiarity, I play with fragrances each bearing a strong connection with my South Indian heritage. The smell of roses in the flower market close to home, the sandalwood scented talcum powder on my grandmother’s dresser, the sweet-smelling jasmine with which we adorn our hair at weddings and the earthy scent of the first monsoon rain hitting the parched summer earth. Each piece unique in technique and color palette reinforces my connection with nature and the intimate memory triggered by scent.

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