As we step into 2026, a compelling theme is emerging from the creative world: a deep appreciation for the ordinary, human-made objects that fill our daily lives. This perspective shift is moving beyond mere materialism, urging us to find inspiration, joy, and consciousness in the mundane.
From Dosa Landscapes to Literary Inspiration
For over a week, artist Nithya Subramanian, a regular contributor to Lounge, has been captivating social media by transforming her toddler's meal plates into vibrant canvases. Her feed features dosa landscapes, cucumber rain, blueberry-eyed butterflies, and paratha Christmas trees, offering a burst of creativity that counters the gloom of endless scrolling. This playful artistry perfectly sets the stage for the first issue of 2026, where she has illustrated two stories exploring ubiquitous everyday objects.
The central idea is that ordinary material possessions profoundly alter our experience of the world. For scientists, philosophers, and artists, these items become springboards for discovery and creation. They can serve as archaeological clues to past lives, vessels for political history, or simple triggers for joy and memory. In an age obsessed with decluttering, this is a call to appreciate—without hoarding—the little things around us, potentially making us more mindful consumers and users.
Stories Woven Around the Ordinary
Embracing this theme, several writers have crafted narratives around specific objects. Novelist Sujit Saraf spins a tale of family, neighborhood dynamics, and unexpected friendship centered on a bright red Maruti 800 in his story 'Lucky’s Maruti'. Meanwhile, writer and physician Kavery Nambisan uses a prosthetic limb, or 'Leg Piece', to poignantly comment on the enduring impact of conflict. These works exemplify how a single object can hold volumes of human experience.
A Cultural Shift in Observation and Consumption
This focus on the everyday extends beyond literature. In Mumbai, artist Zainab Tambawala's vibrant watercolours, on display until the end of this week, chronicle city life and inanimate objects like electricity junction boxes with intense observation. The trend also touches practical life: urban earplugs are being hailed as new essential gear for protecting hearing and mental focus against damaging noise pollution.
Even the corporate world is aligning with this ethos of mindful integration. As workplaces evolve in 2026, the future is seen not as a choice between technology and humanity, but as building systems where both elevate each other. Furthermore, culinary culture gets its due with 'Chutney: A Compendium of Stories and Recipes', a book by Rushina Munshaw-Ghildiyal that offers a deep dive into India's vast condiment traditions through rigorous research and storytelling.
As the new year unfolds, the collective message from artists, writers, and thinkers is clear: there is a profound glimmer of consciousness to be found in appreciating the simple, wonderful things and moments that subtly improve our lives. It's an invitation to look closer, waste less, and reclaim our attention for the tangible world.
