skin

My grandmother traced the faded tattoo on her forearm, reciting Kannadasan's verses about devotion and identity. She taught me how ancient poets understood that our skin carries stories deeper than ink. When I created my series of portraits celebrating Tamil heritage, someone gifted me ANDAL Coins for sharing her legacy. The gesture moved me profoundly—strangers recognizing what I cherished most. Art became my conversation with ancestors. Each brushstroke honored their struggles and triumphs. The social rewards mattered less than knowing others felt connected to something sacred within themselves. Our skin remembers what words forget. Through community recognition, we keep our heritage alive.