Seed Stories was a residency followed by a group exhibition curated by Abhijit Patil and supported by Goethe Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan), Pune.
The residency began at the end of 2024 with interactions with different farmers and seed savers based in rural Maharashtra. It offered me an opportunity to research and explore the narratives around seed conservation through collaboration with people working on ground.
Following the residency, I travelled to a seed bank near Kalsubai Peak, created by Balu Ghode. Here, I had the chance to see a seed bank in person and have conversations with Balu Ghode (a farmer and seed saver) about his challenges running the seed bank. After this, we also had the chance to visit and research the seed banks of Padma Shri Rahibai and Mamta Devi, which were nearby.
For the second part of the research in January 2025, I travelled to Jawhar, Maharashtra, to visit the BAIF office (A rural developmental organisation) and the house of Mavanji Pavar, a seed researcher and conservator.
This experience formed the basis of my final project since he was in the process of building a seed bank for the local community.
Based on the research I had collated, I began working on a graphic novel based on my experiences, which I’m still in the process of finishing.
For the final exhibition display at Monalisa Kalagram in Pune, I showcased drawings, paintings and a short documentary video I had made during the research and development of this graphic novel. The exhibition was open from 28th February to 11th March 2025.
The final installation was titled "What Goes Around Comes Around."
These were some of the invites and social media assets I had illustrated and designed for the exhibition.
These were some of the extra artworks I had made, which eventually weren't shown in the final display:
This exhibition wouldn't have been possible without the help of Mavanji Pawar, Balu Ghode, Mamta Devi, Rahibai, Renu Jamgaonkar, Pranav Pawar, Abhijit Patil, Jayraj Patil, Rupali Patil, Rajita Schade, Aakriti Chandervanshi, Madhuchhanda Moulik, Sudip Moulik, Debopriyo Moulik, Aishwarya Khoche, all the fellow artists participating in the exhibition and the staff at Max Mueller Bhavan Pune.