One belt, One road

Material : Wheat Grains

The objects that I’ve transformed in this work of mine are toys that we come across in markets and roadside stalls.

It’s interesting to see how these Chinese imports have flooded the domestic market and have not only threatened to but actually taken over local dynamics & also cleverly adapted to & embraced local particularities to ensure their success that’s evident.

As far as these objects are concerned, there is this lack of malice and element of adolescence strongly embedded in these objects however the material used i.e wheat, is an attempt to subvert the jubilation & exuberance we experience while viewing them otherwise, into a serious dialogue with the viewer to interpret the current sociopolitical scenario.

Chinese toys displayed in wheat is quite a satirical take as well as an eye opener depicting dominance of a super power on a third world agrarian economy battling with the prevailing threat of food insecurity.

Thus wheat being an important signifier

One Belt, One Road 2017

Mixed-media installation

Dimensions: Variable

Material: Wheat

(Displayed at Karachi School of Arts for Karachi Biennale 2017)