Shankh (Ritual Conch)

Title: The Last Call – 2141

I wanted to reinterpret this ornate ritual conch shell trumpet as an object that no longer needs human breath.

In its original context, the shankh was blown during sacred ceremonies to cut through illusion and announce the presence of the divine. I imagined it in 2141 as something that activates on its own. Faint luminous veins now run through the gilt surface, and the shell emits a low inner light when it senses falsehood in the world around it.

Being part of this challenge with the FLORA and Contra community made me think differently about sacred objects not just as artifacts from the past, but as things that could still have a role in the future.

Original artwork The Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503672 FLORA project: https://app.flora.ai/chat/ns74f4npk235a3bn9agv33kh618dmx8k

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The Earrings That Listen – 2103

I wanted to reinterpret these ornate Indian gold ear ornaments as objects that no longer exist only to be seen, but have begun to listen.

Originally created as symbols of beauty and status, I imagined them in 2103 as quiet witnesses. Soft light now lives inside the intricate gold work and animal motifs, suggesting that the earrings absorb the whispers, prayers, and secrets of those who come near them.

Seeing the range of thoughtful reinterpretations shared by the FLORA and Contra community encouraged me to move beyond surface beauty and explore what an object might quietly hold.

Original artwork — The Met: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39320 FLORA project: https://app.flora.ai/chat/ns74f4npk235a3bn9agv33kh618dmx8k