Friends and Lovers (Aa-ilaa) (2021)
posca on pre-loved dinner platesdiameter 24 cm
This series of plates are part of a growing family of plates that depict pieces of rocks and corals. The word for family in Dhivehi language (Maldivian) is Aa-ilaa. Corals and rocks are my visual cue for grounding and home. The first plates I drew mapped my immediate family. I’m making more plates to symbolise the relationships we have with different people. They may be family through blood, or become family over time, regardless of boundaries of culture, gender, status or faith.
These used dinner plates are perfect objects to map relationships on – they symbolise sharing, comfort and nourishment, a simple object that connects us with others. The fact that these were previously used by someone else makes it more meaningful for me.