Family Tree

Family Tree (2020) is a large-scale sculptural work by Subodh Gupta constructed from stainless steel and stainless steel household utensils. The sculpture takes the form of a peepal, or bodhi, tree, a species that holds cultural and spiritual significance across South Asia. By translating an organic form into metal and everyday domestic objects, Gupta repositions the tree within a contemporary, secular context.
The work brings together utensils such as tiffin boxes, thali pans, and milk pails, objects that are closely associated with daily life and collective memory. Their accumulation across the branching structure reflects themes of sustenance, migration, labor, and economic transformation. While the peepal tree is often linked to religious symbolism, Family Tree emphasizes its rooted presence within shared social experience, shifting attention from mythic associations to lived realities.
Installed in a plaza within the King Abdullah Financial District, the sculpture engages directly with its urban surroundings. In this setting, Family Tree functions as a landmark within the public realm, creating a point of gathering and reflection that connects everyday material culture with contemporary city life.