Hot, Not so Hot: KINGS Gallery
2025
Chillies: Long red, Long Green, Habanero, Turkish Snake, Padron, Thai, Serano, Birds Eye

Autumn marks a time to preserve the food and flavours of the passing summer. A considered process that holds on to the flavours for the tougher colder days. Drying chilli has been a key part of its continued preservation throughout history and the spice trade.
As with many spices, the dispersion of chillies has deep-rooted ties with colonial practice and exploitation eventuating in prolific global uptake. The cultural significance of chillies in cuisines outside of its native South American roots speaks of its value carved over hundreds of years. What follows is an integration of a food product which has shaped cultural cuisines, practices and mythology globally.
Like the diasporic landscape of Naarm, we want to acknowledge all chillies that have colonised or are colonisers. In this form, drying represents an archive of flavour that is unique to the summer in Naarm.