Gita Wolf
Seed
Illustrated by Tushar Vayeda and Mayur Vayeda
and designed by Ragini Siruguri
A seed is a miracle. It is neither alive nor dead, yet holds within itself the potential for life. When it meets the right conditions, it starts to unfurl, with a promise of plenty and the hope of regeneration.
The astonishing variety of traits that a seed holds can be looked at in terms of botany, but also through the lens of art, culture and history. But it is only by connecting these modes—bringing together science and imagination, knowing and relishing—that we can begin to grasp nature with the wonder that it deserves.
This gorgeous handcrafted book makes these connections in two unprecedented ways. The exquisite imagery it features has been created by artists from the Warli tribe in western India. The Warlis nurture a felt kinship with nature to this day, so their art embodies rich ecological knowledge systems in an intrinsic way.
The book also connects form and meaning. Linked by short concise essays, four distinct paper forms explore a diverse set of themes: each designed to capture a particular aspect of the cosmos contained in a seed.
About the author, illustrators and designer
Gita Wolf started Tara Books as an independent publishing house based in India. An original and creative voice in contemporary Indian publishing, she is known for her interest in exploring and experimenting with the form of the book. She has written over twenty books for children and adults. Several have won major international awards and been translated into multiple languages.
Young artists Tushar and Mayur Vayeda, originally come from the Warli village of Ganjad in Maharashtra. After a childhood surrounded by greenery, they went on to study in Mumbai, till they returned back home to pursue their art full time. Their art is inspired by their rich surroundings, the tradition of Warli art and by modern visual cultures. Their work has travelled to Japan, Paris, Switzerland, New York, Hong Kong besides most major cities of India.
Ragini Siruguri is a visual communication designer from south India. Her practice lies at the intersection of graphic design, photography, books and writing, especially in the Indian cultural context. She experiments with the smell of colours, the taste of words, and thinking between the lines.
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