Laisul Hoque / লাইসুল হক

As far as memory serves, moments when my father showed his emotional side to me were rare. Our interactions often consist of my mother passing the phone to him during our FaceTime calls. He inquires about my well-being and expresses concerns about my life choices, which only add to my anxiety and existential dread. The conversation usually drifts into disapproving remarks about the length of my hair or the presence of facial hair, delivered in a tone tinged with disappointment. I rarely have a satisfying response, usually offering silence or a hesitant answer. Our calls often end with him saying, “Alright, talk to your mother,” as he hands the phone back to her. These exchanges oscillate between silence and heated arguments about my autonomy and agency.

But there is one memory from my childhood that stands out.

During a visit to my grandparents, my father decided to take me for a walk through the village market, a glimpse into his upbringing. He led me to a sodium-lit sweet shop and suggested we try his favourite childhood snack: Jhuri Bundiya. This unfamiliar treat combined two distinct snacks: Jhuri, fried gram flour flakes seasoned with spices, and Boondi, small balls of fried chickpea flour soaked in sugar syrup. It was a revelation, a snack that was simultaneously salty, savoury, spicy, and sweet. Mixing the two together was unconventional, and I didn’t know it was allowed.

As we walked back, I held his hand, overwhelmed with gratitude for letting me experience that part of his childhood. Much like the flavours, I imagined that his childhood must have been complex. But much like him, I didn’t express anything. The thought of being emotional with him scared me, partly because I was too young, and mostly because articulating these emotions felt too complicated.

The memory of that warm, nostalgic yellow light, the sensation of tasting something entirely new, and his fleeting smile remain vivid in my mind. It was a rare offering from him to me, a moment I came to see as paternal love. It’s an experience I now wish others could savour.

Throughout my upbringing, the statements I heard most often were: “Don’t stray from norms and traditions,” “Always try to fit in,” and “What will people say?” These words came most frequently from my father. And yet, his favourite snack growing up was something unconventional.

* * *

An Ode to All the Flavours is an interactive installation that invites audiences to taste and experience the artist’s father’s favourite childhood snack.

The trays contain

Jhuri (a.k.a Sev): Fried chickpea and gram flour seasoned with salt, turmeric, cayenne, and bishop’s weed.

(Vegan; may contain traces of gluten and nuts.)

Boondi/Bhundiya: Fried chickpea flour balls soaked in sugar syrup.

(Vegan; may contain traces of gluten.)

The work is freshly prepared by Oitij-jo Kitchen, a social enterprise and women’s collective that supports British Bengali women in achieving financial autonomy through catering.

All the photos above are from An Ode to All the Flavours, presented in East of the Aldgate Pump, a group exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery as part of Backyard Biennial: East, from 15th July to 6th September 2026. Images by Damian Griffiths.

An Ode to All the Flavours

Harlesden High Street, London, 2026

Press

Esquire

The photographs above were taken during the exhibition at Harlesden High Street, which ran from 26 April to 31 May 2026. Images courtesy of the artist.

The exhibition also featured The Gaps: Listening Session, a public programme event organised by Abid Farhan, Fetine Sel Tuzel and Togather Collective.

An Ode to All the Flavours

Nunnery Gallery, London, 2025

East London Art Prize Shortlist exhibition

Artist Talk with Zarina Mohammad

All the photos above are from An Ode to All the Flavours, presented as part of East London Art Prize: Shortlist Exhibition 2025, supported by Bow Arts. Images by Rob Harris and Reuben J Brown.

An Ode to All the Flavours

Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2024

a day long exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery, 28 November 2024

All the photos above are from An Ode to All the Flavours — a day-long exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery on 28th November 2024. Images by Laisul Hoque (the artist) and Fatima Yasmin.

The event was held in partnership with Oitij-jo, with food provided by Oitij-jo Kitchen and support from the Mubarak Ali Foundation.

An Ode to All the Flavours

Kobi Nazrul Centre, London, 2024

The photos above are from the exhibition that was held at Kobi Nazrul Centre, from 7th to 11th of August 2024, as part of South Asian Heritage Month.

Supported by

Tower Hamlets Council

South Asian Heritage Month UK

Brady Arts Centre

Tamarind Theatre Co.

Oitij-jo

Food provided by

Oitij-jo Kitchen

Some photographs feature identifiable audience members. The photographs were taken at public events where attendees were aware that photography was taking place. Still, if you are featured in any of these photographs and would prefer your image to be removed, please contact the artist by email with a screenshot of the image and it will be taken down.