Aarti Pillai

Her practice explores ecological kinship, memory, and myth, drawing from childhood encounters with seafoam, sand, and braided leaves. She views the sea as a radical space of abundance, and her work often reimagines pre-colonial Malayan folklore through tactile, sensory experiences. 

Aarti’s research bridges art and law, investigating the role of emotion, memory, and cultural beliefs in environmental justice. Through the lens of legislative arts and speculative jurisprudence, she explores how myth and oral histories can shape postcolonial climate advocacy and legal compliance.

She is committed to creating community-rooted projects and building collective structures for coastal climate justice through creative, accessible practices.