Divinités Gardiennes des Rizières    நெல் வயல் காவல் தெய்வங்கள்    Paddy field Guardian Deities

​ argile blanche, avec charbon de bois et paille de riz   வெண்களிமண், கரி, வைக்கோல்    white clay, with charcoal and rice straw  ​10 x 15 x 10 cm

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​This work, created with white clay, charcoal and rice straw, reflects the cultural and personal histories embedded in rice as both sustenance and ritual. The era of rice becoming a staple food is visible in Europe, while in South Asia it has long been central to daily life, identity, and survival. From sowing paddy seeds to planting seedlings and harvesting grain, each stage is not only agricultural labor but also ritual and celebration, shaping community and culture. Thai Pongal, celebrated after the harvest as a thanksgiving to the sun, honors the natural forces that sustain life and ripen the fields. In this work, white clay evokes the memory of soil and the body of the land, charcoal carries the trace of fire and sun, and rice straw holds the imprint of harvest and human touch. Together, these materials embody cycles of growth, labor, gratitude, and return. The piece becomes an expression of my childhood experiences and memories with my grand father, interwoven with my present life, where earth, ritual, and remembrance take form through matter.

A woman planting rice seedlings in the field. / Une femme plante des plants de riz dans le champ.