Ethnobotanical Stories and Exchanges Between Sri Lanka, India and Indian Ocean Islands

Join us for an interactive mapping and art-making workshop exploring ethnobotanical knowledge and cultural exchanges across the Indian Ocean region. Participants will engage in a collaborative mapping exercise using large sheets or whiteboards, followed by the creation of a symbolic ‘kolam’ using seeds, objects, and flower art inspired by Sri Lankan traditions — a reimagining of the third part of the Travelling Plants exhibit, which could not be brought into the country.

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.