Melting Pot

Melting Pot

Indian Heritage Centre, 2015

Inspired by the kudam—a traditional South Indian water pot, this sculpture by Kumari Nahappan pays tribute to the heritage of South Asian migrant communities who journeyed to Malaya and Singapore, planting roots and shaping a shared cultural identity. Simple yet resonant, the form evokes a sense of homecoming and belonging.

The sculpture’s flowing lines suggest the movement of people, the exchange of ideas, and expansive trade routes across time. Encircling the form are rings of symbols that reference the cultural imprints and traditions carried by migrants, transformed through generations.

Its placement at the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) deepens its significance. The kudam not only echoes the architectural motif of the IHC’s step-well–inspired façade but also recalls the communal role of water collection spaces, gathering points of life, dialogue, and shared memory.

More than a static object, the sculpture is a living metaphor for creative energy, cultural confluence, and the ongoing germination of identity. It invites reflection on how people from diverse backgrounds meet, influence one another, and build something new together. As Kumari expresses, this artwork tells the story of a region where many arrived as migrants and, over time, came to call it home.