Threshold (Dvāra, द्वार)
Hampi, Karnataka · 2025.
Reclaimed rosewood, indigo, iron-rich mud, myrobalan tannin, ash water, wild beeswax, mulberry silk, turmeric
90 × 35 × 5 cm
In the monolithic landscape of Hampi, temple doors remain long after walls have fallen.
Threshold (Dvāra) reflects on the act of entering — physically and spiritually.
Reclaimed rosewood, once valued in South Indian architecture, became the surface. The dense, tannin-rich grain responded to iron-rich earth, darkening gradually through natural reaction. Indigo was applied layer by layer, settling into the wood like night.
At the center, indigo-dyed mulberry silk is tied with turmeric — a gesture observed at temple entrances, where material carries protection and blessing.
The work considers the responsibility of touch.
The tree is not an object — it is a living presence.
Process
The reclaimed rosewood was prepared using myrobalan tannin and ash water to open the grain.
Iron-rich mud from local rice fields was applied, reacting with the wood’s natural tannins to deepen the surface.
Indigo was layered gradually.
Wild beeswax was used as a protective finish.
Presented during Open Studio, Hampi Art Labs, December 2025.
