What is a tree anointed with red earth and wrapped in winding, green threads doing at Rampart Row? And why is a sphere made of bamboo sticks stationed on a haathgaadi? THE GUIDE deconstructs a few of the installations at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival
What is a tree anointed with red earth and wrapped in winding, green threads doing at Rampart Row? And why is a sphere made of bamboo sticks stationed on a haathgaadi? THE GUIDE deconstructs a few of the installations at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival
If you walk past the several installations that dot the Kala Ghoda streetscape, as part of the ongoing art festival, you might chance upon a tree that is covered with cracked, veined red mud plastered on its bark till as high as human hands can reach.
You might also see some flowers strewn around itu00a0-- like it's been worshipped. A few stray, metallic kites are trapped within the many branches while strands and strands of green thread are coiled around it. The tree is one of the seven installations conceptualised by Haresh Shah of the Yusuf Meherally Centre (YMC) as part of Non Violence II.u00a0
"The first chapter of the Non Violence Movement belonged to Gandhiji. He fought against outside forces," Haresh told us on a sunny morning, as we tried to make sense of the installations. "Today, we are fighting a bigger enemy. We are fighting against ourselves," he proclaims. 
A visitor examines the globe stationed on a handcart as the
anointed tree stands witness. PIC/ ANUJA GUPTA
It's this constant tug of war between man and nature that's the crux of his Land Art Project, which will see two of the installations stationed at Kala Ghoda and the rest at Horniman Circle. The ones at Horniman were brought from the Karnala centre of YMC and installed yesterday. "You can pull each of these green strands and cover the tree even more, and figuratively spread the green cover."
If you are passing by the tree, you will also spot a see-through globe made from intertwined twigs that might not seem like a showstopper. Positioned on a handcart, the globe has rubbish strewn insideu00a0-- paper cups, plastic bags and soft drinks
bottles. But it's the story behind the globe that's more fascinating to hear. YMC, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, works extensively in the area of ecology and environment protection, while also running a hostel for tribal kids.
During one of their classes, the kids were asked to go to their parents once they got back from the day's work (most of them are involved in chopping firewood for sale), and ask them to identify the areas where they had chopped the trees. "We then took the kids to those areas, where they collected leftover twigs and branches, which we then wove into this globe," says Shah.
The kids then got down and dirty, and filled the globe with waste. Over time, the waste reached tipping point, and eventually slid down the cart or ended up tilting it. "A kid observed wisely that our globe succumbed when it was choked." The work now appears to be an ominous reminder of the things to come.
The seven installations have been created with help from four international artists from Poland, France and Cameroon, and involve the participation of kidsu00a0-- those born and bred in a metros, and tribal kids. Apart from the Haathgadi installation, the artists have also created a squirrel (an animal easily identifiable for rural kids too) whose tail ends in a tree. While the squirrel's tail helps it balance, it's the tree that will help our earth keep its equilibrium.
At Horniman Circle, you'll spot a tree representing the future as it bears fruit that are actually plastic bottles, and a pod signifying hope.The installations will be housed as permanent exhibits at the Karnala Centre of YMC, and will be replicated across other centres.
At Rampart Row Street and Horniman Circle.
Till February 13
Don'tu00a0miss these...
Shop
Because The Camiz stall is on the periphery of the action, chances are you'll miss it. Walk down to the Jehangir Art Gallery and you'll spot some buttery-soft, Nehru-collared kameez celebrating the classic colours and styles of professions we have all grown up with. Our pick? The blue-coloured Architect shirt that fits to a tee.
Watch
The Bow is a 2005 Korean film directed by Kim Ki-duk on a 60-year-old captain who has been raising a girl with the intention of marrying her on her 17th birthday. They live happily until a teenage student comes to the ship and the girl feels attracted for him. This one's from the UTV World Movies Bank.
Explore
Chances are that by the time you read this, you would've missed the fabulous walk that takes place in and around the CST Station today. Hence, we suggest you ready yourself for the last walk of this fest that takes place tomorrow. The Crawford Walk will take you along Azad Maidan, the Presidency Court Building and St Xavier's College upto Metro Cinema junction. Observe the transition in architecture from Neo Gothic to Art Deco and Vernacular. End by discovering the first covered market in the cityu00a0-- Crawford Market.
Starting point is Capitol Cinema (10 am).
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