The Tree of Navrasas is a sculptural installation that stands as a tribute to the majestic Rain trees lining the avenues of Bangalore, celebrating and amplifying the city's identity as India's "Garden City."
The work takes its conceptual cue from classical Kannada literary traditions, offering a nuanced interpretation of the Navrasas—the nine fundamental emotions—rather than a literal translation from the performing arts. The leaf canopies of the tree are ingeniously formed from the nine Rasas, written in Kannada script and cut from mirror-polished stainless steel.
In a brilliant interactive twist, the script is installed in reverse. This allows the sculpture to cast shadows that correctly form the text on the ground, immersing the viewer in the literal and figurative "impressions" of the Navrasas. The structure itself is a marvel of design. The trunks are composed of layered stainless steel strips, which not only visually mimic the texture of a Rain tree's bark but also significantly reduce the sculpture's overall weight. This perforated, open design makes the monumental work adept at resisting wind loads, seamlessly blending artistic vision with engineering precision.
