A-O-A-K

Anatomy of a Kolam raises a conversation about bridging human and machine, tradition and technology, probing whether the essence of cultural forms can truly be translated into the language of automation.

speculative / critical design,
physical computing,
interactive experiences

Independent Research by Aditi Neti

This project was undertaken as part of the inaugural 2024-25 cycle of the Design Research Fellowship. Organised by SAM Design Collection, an initiative of Singapore Art Museum, this new platform supports alternative pathways for and forms of design(-adjacent) research.

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BACKGROUND A kolam is a traditional form of decorative geometric line art drawn by women, primarily using rice flour, on the ground at the entrance of homes and temples in South India and other parts of Asia. It is a daily ritual considered an auspicious welcome sign to invite prosperity (Goddess Lakshmi) and positive energy, while also providing food for small creatures like ants and birds. Traditionally, kolams are created using dry rice flour or a paste made out of rice flour!

The creation of a Kolam, a traditional Indian art form, involves an intentionality in every step of the process: from choosing the geometric patterns and colours to its motifs and materials. Additionally, the physical act of making it, through a tactile and sensory experience, is deeply ingrained in its tradition and cultural significance.

CONCEPT This research aims to explore how the creation of kolams, a traditional South Indian art form, can be reimagined through generative design and human-machine interaction, by creating a new physical-digital meaning-making experience. It investigates how human creativity, intentionality, and physicality in kolam-making can be adapted using digital tools, while maintaining the cultural significance of the process of its creation.

RESEARCH: INTERVIEWS I conducted interviews with individuals who have prior experience in rangoli or kolam making, as well as those who have used creative technologies in this domain. These interviews delve into the nuances of cultural knowledge, personal creativity, and embodied practices that define kolam-making.

Featured: Aarati Akkapedi, Vijaya Mohan and Dr. Vijaya Nagarajan

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RESEARCH: VISUAL STUDY This interactive collage, or limited archive, was my way into understanding the embodied knowledge behind kolam making.

VISUAL STUDY→

Drawing Down Desires This theoretic interactive explores the visual and sonic resonances between kolam and cymatics, the study of how sound vibrations shape matter into patterns. The device pictured is a custom-built sonic interface that captures spoken desires and translates it into generative Chladni-inspired visuals, simulating the ways kolams and sound both give form to rhythm.

From Hand To Machine Kolam-making traditionally emphasizes bodily gestures—improvisational hand movements guiding the flow of powder or chalk. This experiment captures those gestures in real time and translates them into a mechanical drawing process via an AxiDraw pen plotter. (Investigating whether a digital intermediary can preserve the tactility, imperfection, and ritual aspect of kolam gestures, and how physicality interacts with computational systems to create hybrid analog-digital artworks)

Materiality I tried by best to stay true to the original materials used for the artform: rice paste. This paste would change in consistency over hours or even a few minutes, and not even once did I really achieve a smooth consistency over one kolam batch. These flaws and surprises served as a different way the ‘human touch’ lives on through the machine.

INPUT / SYSTEM In this interactive form, kolam becomes a collaborative system. The visuals are generated using custom p5.js scripts, controlled by participants.

INPUT / SYSTEM Participants could interact with the system using physical controllers (rotary knobs, sliders, toggles) that altered tile sizes, speeds, densities, and modes.

EXHIBITON Research was presented during Still Rendering, a work-in-progress exhibiton organised by the Singapore Art Museum.
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