Postcard from Lahore
Newsletter 9.2024
Continuing on from my previous newsletter “Bagh in Lahore”* here are some photos of the exhibition as promised! But I did more! I finally got over my year long laziness and updated all the information of our exhibition history on baghehind.com/baghIRL (Bagh in real life). Nicolas and I also worked on a small scent-translation project for the Rietberg’s Ragamala exhibition in Zurich which is on view at the moment, so once I have photos that illustrate how our scents are displayed alongside18th century Rajput paintings, I will update that on this web-page as well with a comprehensive summary of our methodology. Until then, you can read a snippet about our exploration for the Rietberg here: “Wet Fur, mud, lightning (perfume)”
*Bagh in Lahore has a number of helpful web-links listed for all the new subscribers who have kindly joined recently.
On 12th october 2024, curator Fatma Shah conducted a conversation with us over Instagram Live. There was some internet-issue but we squeezed in as much substance as we could before our feed cut off. If you have some patience, you can watch the first part that got recorded here on the gallery’s official page, by clicking on the image above.
Nicolas and I have given so many (virtual) talks together since 2021 and still there are breathtaking surprises from my colleague-gardener! Fatma invited me to speak first so as I laid the groundwork on how Bagh-e Hind emerged as a concept. I mentioned the key image of a saffron crocus flower in the border of a manuscript that caught my eye and hooked me into this sensorial world. In the above recording, viewers can see Nicolas getting up on cue to bring his freshly cut saffron crocus flowers that he grew in his garden that he holds up towards the screen to show everyone! It is such surprising moments that fill me with an overwhelming sense of sweetness! I think about the sheer luck of accidentally bumping into his work via Twitter in 2020 and figuring out quickly that he would make a perfect collaborator for a subversive digital garden project that decentralises knowledge production, away from rigid institutions and their unforgiving gatekeepers.
As for updates on my perfumery work, once more, procrastination was set aside to complete a bespoke project for a really wonderful client. I made her a “Smoked Sandalwood” accord and stitched a rather fanciful, jazzy, Tina-Turner-gold fringe-dressy brocade silk pouch! (And shipped it off with some Smoked Sandalwood coffee!).
The accord was constructed with agarwood (oudh), smoke, petrichor, algae and doused in Mysore sandalwood oil. It sat for four months and matured quite nicely.
I love hearing back from readers, especially about their scent memories, smell-associations and wildest imaginable combinations, so do hit reply if you please!