A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT BY DARSHINI PENMETSA, DILUSHI PRASANNA, GEORGE THOMAS, ISHAAN AMBAVANE, JARRED LABROOY, KAUSHIK PRABHU, SHRUTI SHAH, SONALI MIRPURI, SOUNDARYA CHANDRASHEKHAR, TANISHA MARIA NAIK, AND ZAIB SHAHEEN.

Achaar

Drawing from the rich tradition of South Asian pickles — "Achaar," an intricate blend of vegetables, fruits, and spices — this exhibition, through design, typography, and artistic expression, reflects unique narratives, embodying the diverse identities of our South Asian heritage. This is "who we are and where we’re from."

Curated in RMIT’s Glass House, our goal was to capture the essence of a neighborhood "tapri" (corner shop) through a playful, intimate setup. The images here offer a glimpse into this vision.

During the semester break, I returned to India, capturing the cultural nuances that inspire this work.

Everyday moments, family settings, and local objects became my canvas.

One design, a matchbox inspired by my hometown of Thane, is an homage to these origins.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne-based team worked tirelessly to set up the exhibit.

Aachar poster by George Thomas

My main role was to create a looping video for the vertical screen, so I captured moments that deeply resonated with our theme. Here are a few frames from this journey:

Unexpectedly, my role shifted to remote work from a hospital bed.

Yet, the project continued in full swing.

Thankfully, I was soon able to join in person and experience the exhibit’s full impact.

It’s a different feeling when I walk into this space at various points throughout the day and see a piece of myself living on a loop—10,000 kilometers away from where it was originally shot. Knowing that hundreds of people have seen it—actively or passively—and interpreted it in their own ways. Me, not knowing what they made of it. Them, not knowing they have witnessed 20 lived years of a person’s life and countless stories hidden in objects, buildings, vehicles, signs, and shops.

In a heartfelt close to this journey, Achaar won The Dean's Award at the RMIT Design Grad Show 2024. This project holds a special place in our hearts, embodying the collective spirit of our heritage.