Rasa Totem

A form drawn from classical dance

The totem’s dynamic, anthropomorphic form emerged from algorithmic studies of classical and folk dance movements in South India, particularly Karnataka. Its geometry draws on the mathematical principles underlying India’s classical art forms, while the curved central profile abstracts the facial expressions associated with the rasas—the emotional states central to Indian aesthetics.

The proposed full-scale sculpture comprises stacked, 8-millimeter-thick steel plates of varying shapes and widths, rising from a 4-meter-high, granite-clad pedestal. The scaled prototype was fabricated in 6-millimeter Corian through a collaboration with DuPont India and presented at Index Mumbai. Together, the two iterations investigate how movement, geometry, and cultural memory can converge in a sculptural landmark at the threshold of a contemporary city.