Reconnecting with my Indian heritage through exploring Indian art and design motifs.
Lost, but to be Found is an illustrative book that depicts and documents my exploration of Indian art and design motifs through patterns, mandalas, and architecture. The book was bound using string, and fabric and beads from old clothing archives, integrating a piece of my own history into the artefact.
My goal was to reconnect with my Fijian-Indian ancestry and heritage through my own personal interests in art and design aesthetics. Many second-generation Kiwis feel a sense of cultural alienation in relation to their heritage, and these specific feelings allowed me to navigate this project purposefully.
Using illustration, I visually interpreted cultural motifs, patterns, monuments, and mandala designs in my own style, intertwining elements of Indian design history/principles with my own personal identity. Influences of Indian art and design were also present in the project through inconsistent hierarchy, diverse typesetting, vivid colours, and busy compositions.
The book also acts as a guide to understanding common Indian motifs and their usage, with the purpose of educating people about their beauty and preservation.
