http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Delhi Art Residency - Sanskriti Foundation Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:57:06 +0000 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Well finally here and online! Arrived in Delhi very early Monday morning! Flight was good and the transition to the Sanskriti Kendra relatively smooth from Delhi airport, only a 30 min journey.Slowly getting to grips with the workings of the Kendra. Temperature at this time of year is pretty hot, from April it can get up into the 40 + by midday!Spent the first week sorting out various practical things such as showers, internet connections, fans and bottled water. Power seems to be a constant challenge, electricity cuts out at least five times a day! And whilst the centre does have internet connection it manages to be workable for only very short periods of time. So doing a blog might become an interesting challenge here!Other International residents have been really helpful in getting me started. They are a mixed bunch of visual artists and writers across a number of disciplines and from a number of countries including the States, Japan, England, Oman and Australia. Artists have been funded through various means, from private sources to funding through Unesco, Fulbright and Arts Council.I have a studio/living space, there are eight individual studio/workspaces designated for artists and writers as well as three museums on site, a ceramic studio and a library and additional work and communal living spaces for bigger groups.Sanskriti is set in some beautiful grounds, it really gives the place a serene and tranquil quality, an ideal place to reflect on my practise and research new ideas. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 I went to Agra today , a five hour journey, but well worth it and must do for first time visitors to Delhi. I went to visit some of the famous Moghul monuments, saw the Taj Mahal for the first time, stunning. Also visited Fatehpur Sikri, 25 miles west of Agra. Took lots of photos certainly not going to be short of inspiration. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Have been to visit some  exhibitions in Delhi, went to see work by a painter called Semma Kohli at the Habitat centre here in Delhi as well as an exhibition at the British Council, the exhibition was created by artists selected for a three month international residency programme, the initiative is called The HAT  project (Here And There) and is aimed at designer/makers.  I am hoping to set up some more contacts with artists here in Delhi in the coming week as well as visit some artist studios, I also plan to do some more research in the three museums on site, the Museum of Indian Textiles, Museum of Indian Terracotta and also the Museum of Everyday Art over the coming weeks. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Today I started to explore the museums here at Sanskriti, I am particularly interested in the Museum of Everyday Art and Museum of Indian Terracotta. The South Indian (Tamil Nadu) terracotta horses make for an impressive spectacle lining the walkways and grounds here at the Kendra, some of them standing over 4 metres high. They remind me of the images I have seen of the terracotta armies in China. Throughout the grounds there lie terracotta animals, figures, and Hindu iconography.Ceramics has a long tradition here, in fact it has more people working in clay here than anywhere else in the world, apparently over a million people!  Traditional ceramic techniques pass down from generation to generation within family groups and small communities, however their skills and work is often not given the status it deserves within India itself, largely due to their low caste in Indian society.I also went to look at the Museum of Everyday Art, it houses a range of everyday objects including regional icons, shrines, ritual accessories, lamps, womens toiletries, betel boxes, scales and measures, and kitchen accessories to just name but a few.I am particularly interested in some of the ornate locks and womens combs housed in the museum. Tomorrow I am going to a ceramic community just on the outskirts of Delhi, a place called Uttam Nagar. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 It was an early start this morning, 7am! We went to visit the Prajapat Colony in Uttam Nagar, a ceramic community just on the outskirts of Delhi. Even with our guide and experienced taxi driver we had considerable difficulty negotiating the back streets and winding roads (when I say roads they are more like dirt tracks!) Cows, pigs, dogs and the odd goat are just a few of the traffic hazards for the experienced driver here in India! Getting from one place to another is never a dull experience!I went with a lady based in Delhi called Minhazz, a contact from an American lady here on a Fulbright scholarship here at the Kendra. Minhazz supports Indian artists, particularly those who have no formal arts training, she is very much an advocate for Outsider Artists. She spends much of her time supporting local artists and creating connections between Indian artists and artists from other countries, to enrich all artists experience through cross cultural engagement.She first took us to meet a potter who has a studio on the outskirts of the ceramic colony.His name is Giri Raj Prasad , originally from Ragisthan he migrated to Delhi in search of work, he has slowly built up a studio and now makes the most beautiful crafted, highly skilled ceramic work. Working in traditional terracotta he uses an electric wheel rather than the traditional kick wheel often seen here, I am surrounded by original vessels of varying scales and form. Huge 10ft pieces line the back walls. This is both his studio and his home. His passion for his work is tangible, and whilst many potters here in India struggle to make a living from their work he seems to be doing relatively well with the support and help of people like Minhazz. Up some stairs we make our way to his roof. A tall brick kiln emerges from his flat roof, there are also large neat piles of cow dung, used as fuel to fire his kiln. The kiln is a huge chimney structure, firings are done on average once every three months when there is enough work to fill it.Most of his work is burnished to produce a shiny surface before firing, the pots emerge from the kiln part blackened by sawdust, a beautiful sheen on the surface, each piece is different and unique due to the firing, touched by the flames and the kiln differently.Just before we leave we exchange business cards! He looks intrigued and slightly bemused by the image of my ceramic installation work on the front of my card! I explain a little about my work and as we stand there and chat with the help of Minhazz, he suddenly asks us to stay a little longer to watch him work. We are delighted, as is he! He clearly enjoys visitors to his studio and I feel very lucky to be there to watch him. So we stay a little longer and watch him work ... ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 We also visited the Prajapat community. There are about 300 working potters on the site, spread over several acres. Everywhere you look there are terracotta water vessels and ceramic containers including small cups, money boxes and flowerpots, even the walls of the houses are constructed out of pots!!Most of the people that live here have migrated through necessity to the city in order to improve their living standards. Its extremely hot and dusty. We create quite a stir, foreigners arriving with our cameras!The ceramic vessels are still hand made but are identical in design, mass produced for the terracotta markets here in India. They are still highly skilled but lack some of the beauty and refinement of the work we had seen earlier at Giri Raj Prasad's studio, these people have to produce a lot of pieces each day in order to make enough money to survive.These vessels are the everyday utilitarian objects of India, they probably sell for a few rupees each. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 This last week has been filled with wedding fever here at Sanskriti.The owner, Mr O P Jain, has two of his grandchildren getting married this month and this week marks some of the first events of the wedding ceremonies.Indian weddings are usually a big deal but here at Sanskriti it has been done on a grand scale. The first event was held last night, a classical Indian concert held in the amphitheatre.Artists and craftspeople had spent the past two weeks painstakingly preparing the venue, intricate designs were painted on carefully prepared clay floors (the clay is mixed with cow dung to help deter mosquito’s and applied by hand), traditional orange garlands of flowers covered every gate and pillar and vast bags of pink rose petals were scattered into the water, hundreds of traditional small clay lanterns were suspended between pillars to create curtains of ambient lighting. It was an amazing spectacle. This next week will see further ceremonies which will culminate next week with a dance and music performance by South Indian dancers and musicians here at the Kendra. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 I have spent some time exploring the grounds at the Kendra this week. Scattered amongst the landscaped gardens here are various installations created by previous artists.Wednesday, I went to the Indira Ghandi Centre for the Arts to see the City of Djinns. A really interesting mix of music and story telling, it follows the story of one mans journey through both the historical, political and spiritual landscape of India. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Well the internet and telephone service has been down for over a week now, apparently it is due to the construction of the new metro train service being built for the Commonwealth games in 2010.It is making communication here quite difficult the nearest internet shop is at least 40 minutes away from here by taxi so I am posting this when and where I can!To update, I have spent the past week visiting various sites in Delhi, went to Humayuns Tomb. Humayuns Tomb, was a forerunner to the Taj Mahal, according to the guidebook it is one of the best Moghul Monuments in India, it features much of the same layout and elegance of the Taj but doesn’t quite have the same impact or scale. It was originally built in 1570 and is home to the tombs of many members of the royal family. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 I have been to visit the Salaam Baalak Trust today here in Delhi. The trust works with street children who live and work in and around New Delhi Station.They provide children with support through the provision of shelter, food, medical assistance and education. Where possible they also work to try and get children back to their families.Our guide was 21 year old man called Shekar, formally a street child he guided us around New Delhi Station as well as the back allies of Delhi explaining some of the problems and challenges facing kids here.Shekar also took us to visit two hostels for boys to see for ourselves the impact of the work.I am planning to meet up with Shekar again later in the week to see a girls hostel on the outskirts of Delhi. I am also currently trying to set up a visit to a charity working within the slums of Delhi. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Visited some markets today with the help of my friend Minhazz.I am looking at everyday objects related to women, such as combs, mirrors, hair ornaments etc.I was intrigued by some of the objects I found in the Museum of Everyday Art here at Sanskriti Kendra and particularly the objects in the glass cases relating to women’s beauty. Minhazz took me to a street that just sells wedding related objects. Hundreds of stalls selling everything for the Indian bride, lots of gold and ornate jewellery and beautiful saris. We watched young women as their hands were being painted with intricate patterns of henna.In contrast to this wedding street, I have spent some time researching charities that work for the improvement of womens lives here. Their is a charity called Asha, it works in the slums here in Delhi and provides support for the poorest and most disadvantaged.I was reading some of the statistics on their website. It states that a quarter of all Indian girls do not live past the age of 15, a third of these deaths occur before a girl reaches her first birthday.It also stated that nearly 2 in every 3 women in India are illiterate and that a girl between the ages of 1 and 5 years old is 50% more likely to die than boys here in India. It also has the highest incidence of under 5 deaths in the world. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Left early this morning for Old Delhi. It is really hotting up here, everyone is slowing down as the temperature rises. Its about 42 degrees here at the moment so you have to start earlier to escape the midday sun.Old Delhi was originally the walled city of Shahjahanabad and was built by the Mogul emperor Shan Jahan in 1648, most of the old city walls have now gone but there are some of the gates still left. Delhi originally was made up of seven cities, each with its own identity, however the main divide of the city is between Old and New Delhi.I wanted to go and see some of the famous local markets in Old Delhi as well as see some of the famous crumbling Havelis (nobleman’s ancestral homes). My guide took me to the spice wholesale market and the silver market in Chandni Chowk. The smells, sights and sounds left a lasting impression. Goods here are sold in specific areas so you have streets full of the same types of items, wedding streets, spice streets, jewellery streets etc. Navigating yourself around is quite an art as every type and mode of transport is weaving chaotically around you, and of course you constantly have to watch where you step! Taking photo’s proved pretty tricky too amongst the throng of people.We took a cycle rickshaw to Jama Masjid, it is India’s largest mosque and has a capacity for 25,000 people in its courtyard, also climbed one of the minarets to take in the view of Old Delhi. The view was breathtaking, apparently not so many women climb the steps as this bit of the mosque is a bit of a hangout for the young men, the walls were filled with graffiti messages from young men to their loved ones!I also visited the National Museum here in Delhi, in fact it was a bit of a disappointment. A number of the galleries were not open as they were being refurbished and I found that a lot of the displays in the museum and information were pretty uninspiring and in need of work and restoration. However, some of the rooms were air conditioned so at least I got a chance to cool down a bit and escape the midday sun! ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Shekar took me to the girls hostel at the Salaam Baalak Trust today, was about an hour north of Delhi. The hostel houses around 60 young girls ranging from 6 years old up until the age of 18. Most of the girls have been rescued or referred to the centre because they are from vulnerable situations. Shekar told me that girls who end up in the big cities alone are particularly at risk; most get taken very quickly by either street gangs or pimps to work in the sex trade.I arrived at lunchtime, so it was pretty chaotic!The children here are the lucky ones, they now get to go to school and live in a safe environment. The statistics are heavy reminder of the prejudice that still exists in Indian society towards women. They are often seen as a financial burden to their families and current statistics reflect a stark outlook for women in India today. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 It has been a busy week, trying to pack in as much as possible as my time here is coming to an end. Went to Amritsar on Tuesday to see the Golden Temple. Caught the 7:30am train from New Delhi Station. Train was excellent although negotiating the platforms and locating the correct place to board the train proved a bit of a challenge! Thankfully I found a helpful passenger who directed me to the correct train. 400 trains pass through New Delhi station everyday.I booked an air-conditioned coach, just make’s the journey that bit more comfortable and as it was a six-hour train ride was well worth it. It was great to get out of the hustle and bustle of Delhi and get a chance to see some of the countryside.Amritsar is set in the Punjab, situated right on the border of India and Pakistan, 60% of the population in this area are Sikh. Throughout the Punjab agriculture is the main source of income and work, lots of large open spaces and a lot less traffic. I was picked up at Amritsar station by my guide and driver and taken to the hotel to freshen up before heading off to the border area to see the changing of the flags ceremony performed daily every evening.It is a theatrical spectacle! The ceremony was originally started in 1947 when both independence and partition split former India into India and Pakistan. Hundreds of people gather on both the Pakistan and Indian border to glimpse the ceremony. Guards in their finery and colourful headdresses on both sides parade up and down to the gate getting the crowds in a bit of a frenzy before the flags are lifted. From what I can gather the banter is all good-natured between the crowds on both sides, it has a celebratory and carnival feel to the ceremony. It has only been abandoned in times of war and although tensions remain between the countries the ceremony continues. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Left at 3am this morning for the golden temple, the hotel was only a short ride so didn’t take us long to get there. We checked in our shoes at the drop off point and made our way to one of the four gates that surround the temple itself, four gates symbolising that the temple is equally accessible and open to everyone regardless of faith, caste and religion. The temple is truly breathtaking, at this time of the morning the place exudes a serene and tranquil atmosphere, Sikh men were already stirring and starting to bathe in the holy water that surrounds the temple, lots of people also lay asleep in the grounds. We had come to see the book ceremony, every morning at around 4 am the book is moved from its resting place and taken into the golden temple itself. It is believed that the book is a living entity and that each morning it should be woken up and taken to the temple, at night it is returned to its resting place until the next morning, there is quite a procession that surrounds the movement of the holy book, moves pretty fast too!The temple serves over three thousand meals everyday through its kitchens, a staggering feat. Huge pots were already lit in the kitchens in preparation for the first meals of the day. Everyone is welcome here, one can come and sit and eat in the large dining room. All they ask is that you do something to help, maybe a bit of washing up, or help making the chapatis, everything is run by volunteers who tithe both their time and their money. Even at 3 am in the morning I was offered sweet tea.We also went to look at the Temple museum. A stark contrast to the serene and tranquil environment outside! Lots of paintings of Sikh martyrs being boiled in vats and cut in half, also lots of paintings of great bloody Moghul battles. There were some particularly grisly photographs of dead Sikh men hung on the wall, all died in the shooting in the 1980’s when Indira Ghandi ordered troops to storm the temple as Sikh guerillas were seeking refuge inside the building, 600 hundred people were killed as a result. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Well finally arrived back in the UK! The last week in India went really quickly and much of my time was spent cramming in last minute trips and working out what I could bring back with me to England, 20kg is not a lot! I am yet to digest all that I have experienced. Going to take a while and a good few weeks in the studio to unravel the sights, smells and experiences of this Indian residency. I have come back with an interesting collection of objects, some women’s ornamental hair pins and ornate handmade wooden combs. I am particularly interested in using everyday objects in my work, the seemingly mundane and everyday things. I intend to incorporate some of these everyday elements in my work back in the studio.This has been my first experience of an international arts residency programme, and I have learnt quite a bit a long the way. India itself did not disappoint. In some ways I feel I have only touched the surface of this vast country. The very nature of this kind of short residency experience is that it opens up so many more potential possibilities and avenues to pursue. I suppose in many ways that is the point.I am looking forward to exploring and interpreting some of this research over the coming weeks and to see how this experience might impact on my practise in the longer term. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 Well I am in the studio after a chaotic and busy six months or so.  I am based in Hereford for the duration of this production phase of the project under the AA2A scheme at the art college. I first did this scheme about three years ago after my MA, It gives artist access to facilities and also provides an opportunity for more interaction both with students and other artists on the scheme. I have started casting some of the hair ornaments that I brought back from India. I also want to explore some new materials over the coming weeks, both glass and porcelain. I am really interested in experimenting with translucent materials and incorporating other elements such as light and projected image with the finished work. I plan to go back to the Sanskriti Kendra in Autumn 2008 to exhibit the work. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303  Since returning to the studio I have been casting some of the objects collected from my time in India as well as casting new forms found back in the UK. India has the highest infant mortality rate in the world for children under the age of five, particularly amongst girls who have a lower status in Indian Society than their male counterparts. Infanticide and sex selective abortion account for an estimated half a million female terminations a year.I want to use objects to contrast the statistical research I have collated, exploring the juxtaposition of beauty objects and their cultural, gender-based social issues.  I am particularly interested in using everyday objects, including ornate combs and intricate women’s hair ornaments.  I am currently using porcelain and experimenting with new materials such as glass. I am also interesting in using light and exploring how this might be used with these translucent materials for the production of a finished installation piece. Other elements for consideration for this project include the use of projected image, in particular still images or graphic text and how they can be used to layer the finished pieces of work.   ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 I have been exploring different installation ideas over the past few weeks and also looking at the scale of the pieces and differing ways of lighting and installing the work.  I am concentrating on the porcelain pieces for the exhibition. Experimenting with LD lights with the work. I am aiming to make around 100 individual pieces for the exhibition. So am fairly limited at this stage with time on the project. I have continued to experiment with the glass casting although not really got any good results yet. Had various challenges with the wax I was using to cast with and also getting the right temperature in the kiln for the glass.Great to be experimenting with new materials though, one of the real highlights of having new facilities to work with.I hope to make at least one or two small pieces of glass if possible. Casting some of the combs and one of the baby pieces.     ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303 The last six weeks have been pretty manic in the studio hence my blogs have become less frequent.The AA2A scheme has now finished and the project is moving into the next stage. The AA2A residency at Hereford has been a great opportunity to try out new processes, work with porcelain and explore new ideas. I have also made a few new friends along the way which is always good!I have also been able to iron out a few of the issues surrounding the presentation of the work, particularly the placement of the pieces and the lighting.  I am planning to be exhibit with the charity Oxfam at their headquarters in Oxford in September before the work goes to Delhi in late 2008.Obviously like all these things I need to secure some additional funding for the shipping costs etc but subject to funding  it will be really good to see the work back in Sanskriti.      ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/384303