• The use of plants in everyday rituals inspires Thyme's practice
• She connects with each plant's spirit as soon as she touches it
• Though her work can be dark, it comes from a place of peace

Growing up in the south of Thailand, Thyme Neelaphanakul was surrounded by nature, the devotional practices of Buddhism and Hinduism, and the wisdom of local folk traditions. "I watched how plants were woven into everything: a garland used as an offering to the gods, a single bloom tucked behind an ear, or meals eaten off a banana leaf," she says. "This expanded my imagination at a young age. Through my eyes, a water chestnut can be transformed into the head of a buffalo." These were memories she tucked away for ten years as the fast-paced rhythms of life in Bangkok hastened her. After a while, the plants called Thyme back, and she knew that through them she could reconnect with herself. From these experiences, her tangled, sprouting botanicals and leathers transform into otherworldly sculptures.