अन्वेषण
‘Engraved & Carved’
This earthwork is a collective effort and strong teamwork of the teachers and students of the College of Art Craft Lucknow.
This work is an inspiration taken by the Dhamek Stupa, which shows the wisdom and togetherness of soil so here they all come together from different departments and majors to create a new kind of definition of life, defining the cycle of life originated from the universe and the womb of earth itself.
As mythology and science both described the cycle of life through different stages to achieve the next birth or enlightenment, this earthwork has seven stairs defining the seven stages of life going towards the door of infinity and then to the dome depicting the lap of nature to achieve new life or enlightenment, which is the immortal purpose of the mortal life in this world.
On the other hand, this work is the representation of the basic elements of art and depicts the form of; a triangle, rectangle, square, and circle.
(Text by: Ratn Priya Kant, Alumni, College of Arts Crafts Lucknow)
Noun: Catalyst; plural noun: Catalysts
‘A substance that increases the reaction without itself undergoing any permanent change’
The term is familiar with chemistry, is quite indifferent for an Art work to describe its subject, but we found it very nearer to our concept of converting very tiny yet strong thought into a work ofInstallation.
Alphabets which are initiator of words, sentence, paragraphs, stories, poems, literature, theories, researches, and further language are the first point to get knowledge and presence. We think there are many elements or senses or things involved to get success, they might be very tiny but they have very strong traits to accomplish any thought; they have no shape, color, form, size they are like abstract forms; we found that element in alphabets.
We perceive these ‘alphabets’ works as Catalyst to get result in our life, to reach out to any pursuit, to come up with a strong verdict or every other thing, at that point they works as catalyst that enhanced the reaction without changing their own cognizance, they never change themselves, but they can change anything into positive or negative. To reach out to a consequence, we always need a Catalytic agent to get our things done, some use it for destruction and many use it for construction.
So we came up with the idea of converting this thought into a site specific Installation, we worked and played with alphabets on a barrel shape which represents an abstract form of any catalytic agent, which is very usual yet very important. With inclusion of Audio/video projection which gives our form more interests and apparent identity, that gives efficacy of reaction happening due to ‘CATALYST’. Whole work is benign example of reactions happened, when a group of people work out all together on single track and temperament, to deliver a positive visual action in form of ‘The Catalyst’.
(Text by: Shitanshu G. Maurya)
Rather than choosing surface visuals of Kashi, we opted to go very down to its root for this project, through which we can able to understand sensible logics and science behind making of this spiritual & holy city. As I have heard people want to die in Kashi, to find their way to heaven, in this context it’s become gateway of heaven, which carries faith and love towards this city and God.
This work is representation of those feelings & senses involved during making and upbringing of holy city ‘Kashi’. Several Philosophies, Mythologies, Religions & Reasons are attached with this, but it is quite impossible for someone to know them in a very short span of time, it is a deep subject of research, and search in our self too. We think Kashi is an energy, which shows each and every person, a way to live, a faith to grow, a love to do, a message to spread; and these are essential elements of life. The whole process seems very similar to natural system of giving and taking, as plants and other organisms do to make their food, and what they release as by product, is essential for human to live; there is strong linkage between them and together we make this world. We feel Kashi is also playing its role of making a link between life & Religion, which gives us a way to walk on.
(Text by: Shitanshu G. Maurya)
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