Cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and chili powder. For most, these are the ingredients used to make curry; Sita Kuratomi Bhaumik uses them to make art. Believing that scent carries a cultural weight that betrays its invisibility…she “uses spices, sights, tastes, and smells to evoke culinary and cultural heritage and the impermanence of identity and place.” We can’t wait to see (and smell) her exhibit, “To Curry Favor: Scented Work on Paper” (which will be at San Francisco’s community/art/food/space 18 Reasons next month). Who can resist an artist who claims to use any means necessary to explore her obsessions including “makeup, pantyhose, and spices.”

Photos courtesy of the artist.