I am delighted to share that Garland Magazine published my article: Heavenly jewels to ascend Kailash. Part of their Storylines series, this issue of Garland Magazine features various makers, researchers and cultural storytellers who share their experiences and process through stories inspired by the "Heavens above".
In this piece, I trace the process and inspiration for making my sculptural jewellery series Manthan, and in particular the Kailash ring — a textured, electroformed copper ring inspired by Mount Kailash and the myth of Samudra Manthan - the cosmic churn.
It weaves together memory, mythology, and material — from a distant glimpse of Kailash after an arduous temple trek, to hours spent in the studio shaping a form that holds within it both reverence and release.
“Surabhi Sahgal’s rings reflect mythical symbology embedded in Indian narratives of heavenly pursuits.” — Garland Magazine
Devas and Asuras churning the Ocean of Milk, an illustration by Raja Ravi Varma
The ring revisits the ancient story of Samudra Manthan, where gods and demons churned the cosmic ocean to bring forth both nectar and poison. For me, this myth echoes the nature of making itself: a churn of contradictions, labour, and transformation. Through electroforming and patination, I attempt to create wearable sculpture that becomes a narrative and contemplative object.
I see this article as a small step in strengthening the discourse of jewellery as an art form in India — not merely adornment, but an embodied, narrative practice that connects myth and matter.
You can read the article here: Garland Magazine — Heavenly jewels to ascend Kailash.
I’d love to hear your thoughts — feel free to leave a comment!