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In a series of volumes, titled The Dictionary of Gardening (The Encyclopaedia of Horticulture, published in London in 1887), the author, George Nicholson, begins to teach the reader everything he or she needs to know about how to tend to plants. Justifying himself at each step, the author explains that plants do not know how to grow within their limits – for instance how to root correctly, grow straight and aesthetically, understand their optimum size and shape, and so on. Parallelly, the Dictionary moves into sections which address the fact that we must constantly save the plant, not only from its own lack of understanding, but also from everything that would come and attempt to destroy it.

What's interesting is that this dialogue that the author is 'teaching' you to have (or improve on) is based solely on ideas around aesthetics and intimacy – translating to care that keeps them alive and hurt if they die – instead of larger economic structures that exist around agriculture, for example.  When read, it seems like the author does not write keeping the intimacy in mind, bringing to the fore a larger question – why is such a dialogue is struck at all and what does such a mutually tamed relationship bring?

In this series of works, pages from these books are extracted and reproduced onto etching plates as drawings and transfers. In reproducing specific pages of the book - ones that were originally produced using metal plate engravings and a letterpress - the information is brought back, tracing parallel processes and materials, and allowing what is being said to be re-contextualized.

Sarasija Subramanian’s research-based practice stems from analogies derived from the organic world, in relation to its cultural and political implications. Through interaction and documentation, she continues to work with a growing archive of images and objects that incorporate multiple histories and their relevance in present times.

Sarasija has previously participated in studio residencies at 1Shanthiroad Studio/Gallery, Bangalore, 2018; Interface at the Inagh Valley Trust, Ireland, 2017 and the Inlaks-UNIDEE Residency at the Cittadellarte, Italy, 2016, amongst others. She is currently the editor of Reliable Copy - an independent publishing house for works, projects, and writing by artists. She lives and works in Bangalore, India.

 


 

 


Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Anatomy – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Cactus – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Croton – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Gourd – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Gourd II – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Heat Transfers on Zinc Plate by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Training – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Heat Transfers on Zinc Plates, 32.5 cm x 25 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Budding Knives, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Budding Knives – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Canker, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Canker – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Dibbling, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Dibbling – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020. Edition 2/4


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Mimosa, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Mimosa – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Oak Gall, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Oak Gall – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Rose Gall, Etching  by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Rose Gall – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Canson Montval, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Bedding 1, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Bedding 1, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Bedding 2, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Bedding 2,  Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Beetle, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Beetle, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Cover, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Cover, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Inner Cover, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Inner Cover, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Training 2, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Training 2, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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Training 3, Iteration 2, Etching by Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija Subramanian, Training 3, Iteration 2 – Dictionary of Gardening Series, Etching prints on Tracing Paper, 35 cm x 42.5 cm, 2020, Edition 2/4


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