The colours look completely different in low res.
Anyways, hope you enjoy my recent most favourite paintings.
They are called Lollipop and Life.
With Love
wake
1 day ago
Friday, September 18, 2009
Lollipop & Life
The colours look completely different in low res.
Anyways, hope you enjoy my recent most favourite paintings.
They are called Lollipop and Life.
With Love
Monday, September 14, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Hi All,
Yes I finally decided to wake my sleepy blog. This post is about my final masters project. So after much contemplation, frustration and a lot of sleepless nights, I arrived at something that would hold my attention for at least a month. Let me tell you about my project. I started with this word 'sustainability' and drowned in the data that was thrown at me by the different medias. Its so easy to go off the track with such a subject. I am glad I could hold onto a little something.
Sustainability has become a brand name and is marketed like one. This is quite contrary to the Indian culture where our practices are sustainable without actually calling them so. Its a part of our life to save, conserve, reuse, live in harmony and respect nature. There are practices which might seem incredulous to the unknowing but are amazingly sustainable.
During my research period, I was looking at all the 'designed' products that are already in the market. There was a growing realisation that all were selling or buying something. I didn't want to be a part of that. I wanted to address the thought. This thought I found was there in our culture already. Our traditional practices kept popping their head in conversations. For instance, a friend told me an interesting story. In a village of Rajasthan called Padafoli a villager quickly puts a pebble into a pile of cow dung on the road immediately after the cow has done her job. The villagers claim the cow dung cakes in this manner. This way they could come and collect it later without somebody else claiming the dung. Nothing is wasted!
Many objects that we use are either biodegradable or long lasting. Some of them might be found only in India. They are wonderfully innovative and use elements of nature in a non wasteful manner. Take the banana leaf that is used for serving food for instance or the things that are made from coconut trees. I decided to highlight such practices in my project. The aim of the project slowly took shape. It was to inspire our own people about choosing a sustainable path as well as people from other cultures and countries. The instances that I chose to highlight in the project speak of the reasons certain old practices exist. This area was also very vast so I decided to choose one natural element and center the project around it. Since its pollution and scarcity is a huge topic of concern, I chose water.
Water is an integral part of our religion and lives which leads to water conservation, protection of animals related to water and also provision of water to everybody. The project looks at reasons behind beliefs related to water. The underlying theme is to look at water as not just a resource by re-looking at our traditional religious and cultural practices with respect to sustainablity.
The chose 12 instances after much research. They were supported with folk art like illustrations. Here are 3 examples
Ganga’s Descent
Bhageerath’s great efforts resulted
in Ganga’s descent. An important event
in the Hindu mythology, Ganga changed
Indian lives forever.
She came flowing down and fertilised the
lands that were earlier dependent on
irregular rainfall. She made our lands
sujalaam sufalaam. Her life giving quality
made her a mother goddess. From then on
Ganga’s water was used in all sanskaars from
birth to marriage to death.
Bishnois, the protectors
Amrita Devi and her three daughters were killed
by the men of Maharaja Abhay Singh and then
363 more killed as they embraced the Khejarli trees.
The trees were needed for the construction of a
Maharaja’s palace. The martyrs were Bishnois.
Jambho Ji, a visionary, founded this radical religion
based on protecting nature. The Bishnois live by
twenty nine commandments, out of which one instructs
against the felling of green trees.
They protect groves, which in turn bring rains.
Shravan, the monsoons
The rains drench the earth and bring with them
the holy month of Shravan. Believers abstain from
eating meat and fish during this period. The seas are
stormy and dangerous and the fishing activities
are halted. It is also the season for fish breeding.
After the monsoons the fishermen pray to appease
the sea-god, Varun. They pray for a calm sea so that
they can resume their fishing activities safely.
The Narali Purnima is celebrated to signify the end of
monsoons and the start of a new fishing season.
Frog Marriages
In Assam, frogs are married to bring rains. This belief
comes from the fact that frogs croak before the rains.
Their croaks are compared to the chanting of hymns.
The belief protects frogs from being killed.
The frogs having lain for a year, like Brahmins practising
a vow, have uttered forth their voice roused by Parjanya
When the heavenly waters came upon him lying like a dry
leather bag in a lake, then the sound of the frog unites like
the lowing of cows accompanied by calves.
Rigveda 7.103, 1 & 2
An Awareness Creating Space
The media of communication was an exhibition.
And why an exhibition?
The form of the exhibition was also very important.
The content was was about water, worship and traditional practices.
Hence the form....
The jury was not too happy with my project. One of them found it hard to understand what I had done. All I can say is, I explored very happily, sometimes painfully. The instances have been painstakingly found and compiled and I had a great time illustrating it. Most of all, I am very careful when it comes to using water.
Check how much water your flush tank uses. Don't keep the tap on while brushing. There's lots you can do in daily life. Check the time you spend in the shower or use just one bucket of water (even when you have a head bath- girls, its possible). Ask your maids to use water sparingly while washing utensils. There are many many more things you can do in your day to day lives that can help conserve water. The government will simply stop water supply if there's a shortage. A lot of urban areas in India are already facing only an hour of water supply daily. Then people install tanks in their homes to store water. Then water is dispensed by 1-2 taps connected with these tanks. Do we need the government to impose such restrictions on us before we learn our lesson. Do let me know what you think of the project.
Yes I finally decided to wake my sleepy blog. This post is about my final masters project. So after much contemplation, frustration and a lot of sleepless nights, I arrived at something that would hold my attention for at least a month. Let me tell you about my project. I started with this word 'sustainability' and drowned in the data that was thrown at me by the different medias. Its so easy to go off the track with such a subject. I am glad I could hold onto a little something.
Sustainability has become a brand name and is marketed like one. This is quite contrary to the Indian culture where our practices are sustainable without actually calling them so. Its a part of our life to save, conserve, reuse, live in harmony and respect nature. There are practices which might seem incredulous to the unknowing but are amazingly sustainable.
During my research period, I was looking at all the 'designed' products that are already in the market. There was a growing realisation that all were selling or buying something. I didn't want to be a part of that. I wanted to address the thought. This thought I found was there in our culture already. Our traditional practices kept popping their head in conversations. For instance, a friend told me an interesting story. In a village of Rajasthan called Padafoli a villager quickly puts a pebble into a pile of cow dung on the road immediately after the cow has done her job. The villagers claim the cow dung cakes in this manner. This way they could come and collect it later without somebody else claiming the dung. Nothing is wasted!
Many objects that we use are either biodegradable or long lasting. Some of them might be found only in India. They are wonderfully innovative and use elements of nature in a non wasteful manner. Take the banana leaf that is used for serving food for instance or the things that are made from coconut trees. I decided to highlight such practices in my project. The aim of the project slowly took shape. It was to inspire our own people about choosing a sustainable path as well as people from other cultures and countries. The instances that I chose to highlight in the project speak of the reasons certain old practices exist. This area was also very vast so I decided to choose one natural element and center the project around it. Since its pollution and scarcity is a huge topic of concern, I chose water.
Water is an integral part of our religion and lives which leads to water conservation, protection of animals related to water and also provision of water to everybody. The project looks at reasons behind beliefs related to water. The underlying theme is to look at water as not just a resource by re-looking at our traditional religious and cultural practices with respect to sustainablity.
The chose 12 instances after much research. They were supported with folk art like illustrations. Here are 3 examples
Ganga’s Descent
Bhageerath’s great efforts resulted
in Ganga’s descent. An important event
in the Hindu mythology, Ganga changed
Indian lives forever.
She came flowing down and fertilised the
lands that were earlier dependent on
irregular rainfall. She made our lands
sujalaam sufalaam. Her life giving quality
made her a mother goddess. From then on
Ganga’s water was used in all sanskaars from
birth to marriage to death.
Bishnois, the protectors
Amrita Devi and her three daughters were killed
by the men of Maharaja Abhay Singh and then
363 more killed as they embraced the Khejarli trees.
The trees were needed for the construction of a
Maharaja’s palace. The martyrs were Bishnois.
Jambho Ji, a visionary, founded this radical religion
based on protecting nature. The Bishnois live by
twenty nine commandments, out of which one instructs
against the felling of green trees.
They protect groves, which in turn bring rains.
Shravan, the monsoons
The rains drench the earth and bring with them
the holy month of Shravan. Believers abstain from
eating meat and fish during this period. The seas are
stormy and dangerous and the fishing activities
are halted. It is also the season for fish breeding.
After the monsoons the fishermen pray to appease
the sea-god, Varun. They pray for a calm sea so that
they can resume their fishing activities safely.
The Narali Purnima is celebrated to signify the end of
monsoons and the start of a new fishing season.
Frog Marriages
In Assam, frogs are married to bring rains. This belief
comes from the fact that frogs croak before the rains.
Their croaks are compared to the chanting of hymns.
The belief protects frogs from being killed.
The frogs having lain for a year, like Brahmins practising
a vow, have uttered forth their voice roused by Parjanya
When the heavenly waters came upon him lying like a dry
leather bag in a lake, then the sound of the frog unites like
the lowing of cows accompanied by calves.
Rigveda 7.103, 1 & 2
An Awareness Creating Space
The media of communication was an exhibition.
And why an exhibition?
The form of the exhibition was also very important.
The content was was about water, worship and traditional practices.
Hence the form....
The jury was not too happy with my project. One of them found it hard to understand what I had done. All I can say is, I explored very happily, sometimes painfully. The instances have been painstakingly found and compiled and I had a great time illustrating it. Most of all, I am very careful when it comes to using water.
Check how much water your flush tank uses. Don't keep the tap on while brushing. There's lots you can do in daily life. Check the time you spend in the shower or use just one bucket of water (even when you have a head bath- girls, its possible). Ask your maids to use water sparingly while washing utensils. There are many many more things you can do in your day to day lives that can help conserve water. The government will simply stop water supply if there's a shortage. A lot of urban areas in India are already facing only an hour of water supply daily. Then people install tanks in their homes to store water. Then water is dispensed by 1-2 taps connected with these tanks. Do we need the government to impose such restrictions on us before we learn our lesson. Do let me know what you think of the project.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Try this exercise. Ask this question the whole day to yourself and to everybody around you. Find the answers for yourself.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Shared Questions
We had Prof. Barry Vercoe of Media Arts & Sciences, MIT Media Lab visiting us at IDC. He presented some exciting projects which had taken place at MIT Media Lab. I was thoroughly impressed with the work he presented. But one thing he said stuck with me and needled me into posting this. He was talking about the 'One Laptop Per Child' and its benefits. OLPC takes robust, wireless enabled laptops to remote areas where it is used as tool for education and play.
He mentioned that 'the reason children take quickly to the laptop because it is 'their own laptop' and 'nobody else's'. Even the parents are expected to ask their child for permission to use the laptop. The child does not have to share it with any other child. Hence there is a feeling of ownership which leads to the child taking better care of the laptop.'
I am sure this is true and this strategy works. These laptops go into remote areas where resources are scarce.
Made me think of the Kalahari bushmen in 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' who start fighting over a cola bottle that did not exist in their lives before. That raised a question in my mind. Are we incapable of taking care or responsibility for what is not only ours but what is shared? It is scary to see this feeling of ownership getting ingrained at a tender age. My project on sustainability makes me question everything around me. What happens to our earth that is mine as well as ours? Who takes responsibility for it?
He mentioned that 'the reason children take quickly to the laptop because it is 'their own laptop' and 'nobody else's'. Even the parents are expected to ask their child for permission to use the laptop. The child does not have to share it with any other child. Hence there is a feeling of ownership which leads to the child taking better care of the laptop.'
I am sure this is true and this strategy works. These laptops go into remote areas where resources are scarce.
Made me think of the Kalahari bushmen in 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' who start fighting over a cola bottle that did not exist in their lives before. That raised a question in my mind. Are we incapable of taking care or responsibility for what is not only ours but what is shared? It is scary to see this feeling of ownership getting ingrained at a tender age. My project on sustainability makes me question everything around me. What happens to our earth that is mine as well as ours? Who takes responsibility for it?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Harmless Holi
Dear All,
We are all informed about toxic colours and water shortage, so I will not ramble on about it.
This will be my first eco-friendly holi and I am excited about it!
Check out these links and find out where you can buy the safe colours.
I am getting some myself :)
http://www.rcdabolim.org/2009/non-toxic-and-eco-friendly-holi-natural-holi-colours/http://www.rcdabolim.org/2009/non-toxic-and-eco-friendly-holi-natural-holi-colours/
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/Eco-friendly-colours-for-Holi/articleshow/4220708.cms
Holi enthusiasts can make the colours themselves.
Yellow: Mix turmeric (haldi) powder with chick pea flour (besan) /
Boil Marigold or Tesu flowers in water
Yellow liquid color: Soak peels of pomegranate (Anar) overnight.
Deep Pink: Slice a beetroot and soak in water
Orange - red paste: Henna leaves (mehendi) can be dried,
Boil Marigold or Tesu flowers in water
Yellow liquid color: Soak peels of pomegranate (Anar) overnight.
Deep Pink: Slice a beetroot and soak in water
Orange - red paste: Henna leaves (mehendi) can be dried,
powdered and mixed with water.
Enjoy :)
Enjoy :)
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