Hyphenated Lives is a re-imagining of fantastical mutations within the natural world, where hybrid species of birds, animals, trees, and flowers—often claimed by nations as their own or as national symbols—are symbolically combined. The hyphen serves to unite these otherwise conflicting nations.

Reena Kallat chose to explore non-human species to illustrate how to share the planet, emphasizing that the existence of one species depends on others and that the disappearance of one can adversely affect the rest. A recurring motif in these works is the electrical cable. These cables, which usually transmit ideas and information to connect people, are intricately woven into forms that resemble barbed wire, symbolising barriers. This imagery explores ideas of independence and interdependence, prompting us to reflect on the bonds and borders that shape our complex relationships with others.