Rotating Histories: Chutneys, Bread & the Taste of Resilience - By Two Odd

A talk around the food installation Rotating Histories: Chutneys, Bread, and the Taste of Resilience by Two Odd (Akshita Garud and Saba Sheikh). 

Two Odd’s curated experiences revolve around the idea of artistically translating a relevant theme in the creative direction, the mannerism of the experience, and the menu of the evening. 

The food installation invites participants to gather around a table where an array of chutneys and dips from different regions—each with its own history of suppression—awaits. At the centre of it all is a rotating bread machine, offering a continuous cycle of fresh bread. This simple, communal setup becomes a powerful symbol for resilience, cultural blending, and the enduring fight for identity.

The rotating bread represents the cyclical nature of history—how generations of oppressed communities have faced suppression, adapted, and continued to resist. Bread, a universal staple in cultures worldwide, transforms here into a metaphor for shared struggles. Whether it's naan, pita, or other flatbreads, the bread links diverse traditions and serves as a connector across cultures with histories of colonisation, displacement, and cultural erasure.

The chutneys and dips, while diverse in flavour, texture, and origin, share a common thread: they are the products of cultural syncretism and survival. From India’s tangy tamarind and spicy green chili chutneys, which tell stories of resistance against British colonial rule, to Palestinian dips like za’atar and hummus, which symbolise rootedness in a land under occupation, each condiment embodies resilience. They highlight how marginalised communities have preserved their identity and heritage despite external pressures to assimilate or conform.

In today’s globalised world, where cultural identities are often pressured to assimilate into dominant narratives, these chutneys and dips stand as acts of defiance. The tension between preserving tradition and embracing modernity is a struggle shared by communities across the world, including those in a city like Dubai, where diverse cultures coexist. The act of sharing these chutneys and bread invites reflection on how people navigate this duality—holding onto roots while adapting to changing realities.

As participants break bread together, they become part of a global narrative of solidarity. The diversity of flavours reflects different paths of struggle, yet they come together on this communal table, creating a richer collective experience. This mirrors how oppressed cultures have found strength in unity, even across geographical and cultural divides.

The installation concludes with a call to recognize and support the resilience of those who continue to fight for their identity and dignity today, from Palestine to other marginalised communities worldwide. In this space, every bite tells a story of survival, adaptation, and the unbreakable spirit of cultures that refuse to be erased.

Two Odd is made by and off Akshita Garud and Sabah Sheikh. They both do art direction for editorial content, driven by story telling, and curate experiences where they do spatial design via tablescapes and installations. 

The underlying theme of all their work is to advocate for positive change and purpose. Through their work, Ashika and Sabah narrate stories and initiative conversations about otherwise hushed topics, challenging rigid and unfair societal norms.

Two Odd is an online magazine and a creative studio. Two Odd facilitates the service of art direction via all mediums as a creative studio and as an online magazine, it speaks about narratives that need more visibility that advocate for change. 

An assemblage of curiosity, Two Odd undresses the normal to embrace the odd.

Host or Publisher Alserkal Avenue