Meena Vari (In) is the Dean at the School of Media Arts and Sciences and Dean of Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology (www.srishtimanipalinstitute.in). She coordinates activities of the Center for Experimental Media &Arts (CEMA) and works closely with artists to develop the practice of Contemporary arts in Srishti and outside. Since 2004, she has been curating an annual international project called ‘Srishti Interim – Festival of Ideas & Performance’ by inviting Contemporary artists from around the world. Soil Assembly is one of the projects initiated during the Srishti Interim 2023.