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©Tashiya de Mel, Archival intervention of ‘Cinnamon Peelers’, nameless (c.1672).
Each 12 months throughout Earth Week I curate a set of photographic tasks from artists who’re working to make the often-invisible nature of the worldwide local weather and the ecological disaster extra seen utilizing conceptual, lens-based artwork strategies. The arts – and the visible arts particularly – have a singular capability to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths, provoke significant dialogue, foster empathy, and encourage people to take motion on immediately’s most urgent points.
Today, we’re taking a look at Tashiya de Mel’s challenge, To Taste a Bittersweet History.
These our bodies of labor are linked by this thematic lens: making the often-invisible nature of the worldwide local weather and the ecological disaster extra seen utilizing conceptual, lens-based artwork strategies.
©Tashiya de Mel, An assortment of instruments used for peeling Ceylon cinnamon.
To Taste a Bittersweet History
As somebody who grew up in Sri Lanka and lived within the Netherlands, I’m intrigued by how in a different way the Dutch-Sri Lankan colonial historical past is remembered; the historical past is absent from mainstream narratives on the Dutch colonial empire, whereas in Sri Lanka this era is related to bittersweet nostalgia.
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) colonised Sri Lanka between 1658 and 1796. In their efforts to safe a monopoly on the cinnamon commerce they reworked the panorama and tradition of Sri Lanka, leaving traces seen immediately. I exploit the historic significance of cinnamon as a degree of departure, to generate a vital dialogue that unpacks among the forgotten tales and violent histories from this era.
‘To taste a bittersweet history’ is an ongoing challenge that brings collectively collective reminiscence to supply new methods of participating with a fancy and nuanced historical past and explores how visible media can be utilized to deal with colonial legacies. The analysis has been revealed in FOMU Trigger and Issue #4 of the OVER Journal. Parts of the work have been exhibited at theRoyal Academy of Arts (NL) and Melkweg expo (NL) in 2024.
©Tashiya de Mel, Digital collage, Cinnamon Gardens. Using archival pictures from Colombo’s once-thriving cinnamon plantations, the collage displays on the transformation of cultivated land into a up to date elite district in Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, A younger cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum) photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, Cinnamomum verum, higher generally known as Ceylon Cinnamon, is a plant that’s indigenous to Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, A forest of Ceylon Cinnamon bushes.
©Tashiya de Mel, Stacked cinnamon branches in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, My mom making ready sago pudding infused with cinnamon.
©Tashiya de Mel, Mural exhibiting bales of cinnamon alongside a cinnamon tree in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, : Empty glasses of cinnamon tea served on the Cinnamon Islands in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka.
©Tashiya de Mel, Effects of peeling on the bark of Cinnamon verum tree photographed in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Tashiya de Mel is a Sri Lankan photographer and conservationist who makes use of visible storytelling to create narratives that drive social change. Her observe explores the character and prospects of documentary image-making and offers with themes corresponding to colonial histories, heritage, landscapes, and the local weather disaster.
Tashiya is pushed by a curiosity to forge connections with various disciplines corresponding to artwork, historical past, academia and science, and discover methods of bridging these disciplines by means of totally different types of image-based media. She is the recipient of a number of awards and grants together with the Visura grants for freelance visible journalists in 2023 for her challenge ‘Great Sandy River’ in addition to Stroom expertise award in 2024. She was chosen for the 2024-25 FOTODOK Lighthouse Talent Program and was nominated to the Futures Photography platform in 2025.
Instagram: @tashiyademel
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This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
http://lenscratch.com/2026/04/earth-week-tashiya-de-mel-to-taste-a-bittersweet-history/
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you'll…