ZAHRA MANSOOR
ART
Topographies is a project that aims to present South Asian culture beyond reductive narratives. It explores how human conduct in South Asia is shaped by factors in the private, public, emotional and spatial realms by combining contemporary art from the region with its culinary practices.
We have selected Haleem and Sheer Khurma, two dishes rooted in Pakistani domestic life and memories of Zahra’s childhood, to explore the artworks' themes of duality, intimacy, home and belonging.
FOOD
Haleem
Lentil & beef stew, Fried onions, Herb & ginger mayo
Echoes of Self Portrait (iv) can be found in Haleem through its layering and interplay between concealment and unveiling. Onions move through the dish in different forms — caramelised into the base until almost imperceptible, then reappearing as a fried garnish — allowing the same ingredient to be experienced differently when hidden within the dish as opposed to when revealed on its surface. Visually, the work’s flesh-like, organic tones contrast the ornamental precision of its Kundan border, creating a tension between intimacy and adornment.
Sheer Khurma Entremet
Vermicelli pudding, Date mousse
Dates, central to sheer khurma, connect the dessert to the South Asian Muslim tradition of enjoying it on Eid morning, following Chand Raat. The contrast between the airy mousse and the dense pudding centre echoes Zahra’s exploration of duality (between the public self and the intimate self).
