‘Stories on a Banana Leaf’ brings art and food together

Why ‘Stories on a banana leaf,’ an interactive exhibition curated by MAP, is a feast for the senses and the intellect

What do a recipe, a work of art and a story have in common? All these are a part of ‘Stories on a Banana Leaf,’ an online, interactive exhibition hosted by the staff of Museum of Art And Photography (MAP), Bengaluru. Talking about food is a guaranteed ice-breaker and during the pandemic, it became a ‘binding agent’ for the team at MAP. “The idea for an exhibition like this took shape during the lockdown and food helped us connect with each other and our families even if we were living on our own,” says Vaishnavi Kambadur, assistant curator, MAP. “Holed up as we were in different places, talking about food created a sense of togetherness and forged a bond,” says Arnika Ahldag, assistant curator at MAP, adding, “We began sharing personal traditions and memories centred around a particular dish or a recipe.”