Pulli Kolam: A Traditional South Indian Craft Practice for Representing Data

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Ramesh, Shri Harini, Rajabiyazdi, Fateme
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Ramesh, Shri Harini
Rajabiyazdi, Fateme
author_facet Ramesh, Shri Harini
Rajabiyazdi, Fateme
contents This paper introduces Pulli Kolam, a traditional South Indian craft, as a medium for physical data representation. Grounded in its cultural meaning and embodied practice, Pulli Kolam follows structured geometric rules while allowing creative variation. We identify five mapping strategies within Kolam (dots, patterns, fills, lines, and color) that can be used for representing data physically. without disrupting traditional practice. Through an illustrative scenario of daily well-being tracking, we demonstrate how data representation can be embedded within routine craft practice. We conclude by outlining potential material adaptations that extend Kolam beyond its ephemeral form while maintaining its embodied and ritual qualities.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_02343
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Pulli Kolam: A Traditional South Indian Craft Practice for Representing Data
Ramesh, Shri Harini
Rajabiyazdi, Fateme
Human-Computer Interaction
This paper introduces Pulli Kolam, a traditional South Indian craft, as a medium for physical data representation. Grounded in its cultural meaning and embodied practice, Pulli Kolam follows structured geometric rules while allowing creative variation. We identify five mapping strategies within Kolam (dots, patterns, fills, lines, and color) that can be used for representing data physically. without disrupting traditional practice. Through an illustrative scenario of daily well-being tracking, we demonstrate how data representation can be embedded within routine craft practice. We conclude by outlining potential material adaptations that extend Kolam beyond its ephemeral form while maintaining its embodied and ritual qualities.
title Pulli Kolam: A Traditional South Indian Craft Practice for Representing Data
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.02343