‘dhuuan‘ (smoke)
birds-eye maple, interior finished with india ink, exterior with homemade oxidising solution and wax. 2024. 24’’x7’’x4’’

a spiritual recontextualisation of the Indian agarbatti boxes my mother lights every Friday. designed with a thoughtful elegance, it features a smooth-sliding drawer that serves as a platform for lighting incense cones. once the incense is lit, the drawer is seamlessly returned to its home, while brass knobs in the central row control the release of smoke from the central chamber. these knobs can be placed along the side rows, forming patterns similar to the grid of rangoli. the interior, stained
with India Ink, conceals soot, and the lightly ebonised exterior mirrors the gently swirling grey smoke.

dhuaan invites mindfulness, encouraging the user to embrace the rhythm of ritual, be present in their breath, and move with intention.
light the incense, and just watch the smoke.

process: