Founded by Niyanta Sharma, an artist and architectural designer with Indian heritage, and Wesley Hauler-Winterford, a nutritionist and cook with Māori heritage. Together, Playte explores the joy of gastronomy
2024
London
This project stems from many conversations in our shared kitchen about our diasporic experience and food. The bittersweet, Khatta Meetha memories we have attached to foods that remind us of home. Our memories, contrasting in flavours, akin in nostalgia. The textures, colours, and smells evoke stories; from dipping biscuits in our grandparents' tea to the late summer’s afternoons spent making sauerkraut.
From the Taj Store to Maja Polish Deli, here, we have built sculptures based on childhood treats that we have carried with us to our many homes. We explore the thread between our separate experiences of growing up on different sides of the world. Each image and sculpture represents a different moment - a whiff of the spice cupboard, a crunch of pretzel or the last piece of naan to clean up your plate.