Ajjicha Loncha

Love is often described as layered and complex, yet sometimes, it finds its purest expression in the simplest of things—things so ordinary that they become extraordinary with meaning. For me, that love exists in my grandma’s homemade pickles.

The love she pours into every recipe extends far beyond just the two of us. It’s the love shared in school tiffins with friends, the love mothers serve up with every meal, the love that transcends generations.

Sometimes, while eating, I might be distracted—scrolling through my phone, lost in conversation, barely noticing the food in front of me. In those fleeting moments, that tiny dollop of pickle might seem insignificant. But in truth, it holds an immeasurable place in my heart. It’s a bijou portion of tangy magic, yet its presence is colossal—a daily reminder of love, care, and the invisible threads that bind us to home. With every bite, my grandma’s love consumes me and nourishes me from within.

This illustration reimagines my grandma’s pickles through the lens of Andy Warhol’s pop art movement. Just as Warhol transformed the humble Campbell’s soup can into an icon of culture and nostalgia, I wanted to celebrate my grandma’s pickles as more than just a condiment. To me, they are a daily staple elevated through love, tradition, and now, through art. Sometimes, love isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about the small, everyday things that hold a lifetime of meaning.