Design Workshop II Coming of Age of India Museum Concept December 2013
Aarushi Duggar Chingkhomba Chingtham Pooja Sonkar Exhibition Design, VI Semester
Visiting Faculty Abeer Sengupta Anchor Faculty Tanishka Kachru
Contents
1. Summary 2. Approach 3.Course Aim and Premise 4. Design Intent
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5. Target Audience
4
6. Proposed Venue 7. Media and content 7.1 Media Matrix
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8. Concepts 8.1 Concept 1 8.2 Concept 2
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9. Final Concept 9.1 Concept description
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2 3 4
6
7.2 Content Matrix
9.2 Types of Interaction 9.3 Layout 9.4 Walkthrough 9.5 Detailed Renders
1. Summary
1
Throughout one’s life one passes many stages of development. Every level of development brings with itself a feeling of change and a new level of understanding. In the general context, ‘coming of age’ is referred to the idea of a person being initiated into adulthood. However, a human being comes of age at many different points, from childhood to old age. It has a lot to do with playing the roles which come with the stage one is in. Stages in life Going to School Going to High School Graduating Getting Married Getting a Job Having a child Retiring Preparing to pass on
Issues Accepting Responsibility Living up to expectations Being true to yourself Taking a stand Dealing with emotions Dealing with Heartbreak Loss of Innocence Experiencing and Knowing Fitting In *Not necessarily in the same corresponding order
The ‘coming of age’ is like a moment of epiphany when one realizes one’s initiation into a new stage of life. It brings with itself a sense of achievement and conquest. In our exhibition we talk about our nation, India, as a body which has undergone many stages of ‘coming of age’ since 1947. India has reached milestones at various points in history, post-independence. The event of partition deeply affected the social, political, economic and cultural lives of millions of people and media. The narrative of this exhibit is to present this progress of India, as a nation by emphasizing on issues that define the development of the country by focusing on issues like the Dalit Movement, Environmental and Agricultural reforms and Naxalites. The exhibition will explore the reforms undertaken for uplifting India as a nation and its people through cinema and literature.
2. Approach
2
We have been talking about the ‘coming of age’ of an individual. What happens when we talk about the nation as a body which has undergone many stages of developments since its birth in 1947? The museum will narrate the story of the various changes that the country has gone through by bringing out the peripheral voices telling hushed up stories. The museum will put a spotlight on previously unheard voices from all the physical and metaphorical borders of the country. Growing up is a rather difficult and uncomfortable process. At many points there is uncertainty. Thus, the museum narrates the story of India where maturing and achieving given standards in its course wasn’t the easiest thing to do. We bring forth all the gawky developments and embarrassing episodes which occurred in the adolescence of India. The team has thus recognized the various changes and developments that may happen at any stage.
3. Course Aim and Premise
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Aim The aim of this project is to curate a museum, by selecting a collection of artifacts ranging from a variety of media such as cinema, photography and literature to paint a comprehensive picture of a selected theme; the theme in this case being the coming of age of India as a nation. The idea is to represent moments in the history of India that marked its position as one of the one of the pioneers. Its aims at depicting the gradual stages the country has undergone to reach its current levels of maturity.
Premise
• Curate a Museum • To decide the theme, its meaning and the message to be given to the visitor: Intent
• To do extensive background research on the topic and find artefacts associated with it: Content Research: Media Matrix
• To explore all the possibilities: Concept Explorations • To create a story line for the space: Narrative Matrix • To design the space/museum in 3 dimension to show the look and feel of
the space and also to show how the artefacts will be displayed : Concept Rendering
4. Design Intent
• • • • • • • •
To bring out the peripheral voices To highlight untold stories and facts To deliver authentic information to the visitor To celebrate works (films, literature, photography) on related subjects To trace the gradual development and progress of India as a nation To nudge the visitor to question her/his sense of reality To stir a sense of hope for improvement and express the possibility of ‘growing up’ into a nation without problems To celebrate some of India’s finest works of art and literature
5. Target Audience
• • • • •
4
Indian and international public Scholars interested social sciences and sedia studies School children on excursions Foreign delegates To celebrate some of India’s finest works of art and literature
6. Proposed Venue
5
Lodi Gardens in New Delhi. Delhi, the national capital and the political hub, seems to be the most relevant address for this museum since it speaks of India’s history.
7. Content and Media
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7.1 Media Matrix Event
Communicative intent
Entering a constricted environment
To communicate the feeling of suppression
Content
Experiential intent Emotive quality
Spatial characteristic
Depression/sadness/dullness
A small room/gallery with little light
Hope: a need to get out of the darkness and walk upwards towards light
An entrance opening to a gallery which has a spiral ramp with some source of light above.
Heartache, shock, disgust
Aisle A: Information Panels Artefacts
Media, tools and devices
To create a feeling of contrast with the imminent experiences of gradual progress. To create an environment of ignorance Noticing a way out
To show that there is a way out of these problems
Ascending up the ramp: Section 1: Aisle A,B and C
To show the sorrows of partition through media
Partition
Aisle B and C: Screening Space with a corridor for people to pass behind
Information panels, Artefacts from the time, films, photography, books, quotes.
Aisle D: Reading Area with books on the subject Section 2
To exhibit the works (poems) of lesser known writers
Hungryalist Movement
Inspiration
Aisle E: Dark Area with the highlight on the photos. The effect should be dramatic with a voice reciting the poems.
Information Panels, photography, books, quotes, audio recording.
Section 3
To Reveal the hidden truths and facts about the Naxals.
Naxal Movement
Shock, surprise, empathy
Aisle F: Screening Space, Aisle G - Book Exhibition
Information Panels, Projection of black and white photos and audio of poems
To humanize their distorted imagery as terrorists To show the life of the common man at the time of the Naxalist insurgency
Understanding the plight of the people Correcting wrong notions created the media
To create a feeling of Empathy. To take a political stand. To truly understand their plight. * continued on the next spread
7. Content and Media
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Event
Communicative intent
Content
Section 4
To expose facts that drove the Environmental movement.
Narmada Bachao Andolan
To depict the lives of the ordinary man affected by the
Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Experiential intent
Media, tools and devices
Emotive quality
Spatial characteristic
Shock Surprise Sympathy towards affected people. Empathy
Aisle H - Screening Space
Kashmir Conflict
Shock and shame
Kargil War
Having a new perspective of the war
Aisle J - Screening Space, Aisle K - Book Exhibition
Information Panels, Artefacts from the war, films, photography, books, quotes
Aisle I - Book Exhibition
Information Panels, Documentaries films, photography, books, quotes
Chipko Movement (1970s) Section 5
To depict the conflict through the eyes of a Kashmiri To show the politics which led to the war To disgrace war and militant nationalism
Questioning the actions and decisions made by the country
To celebrate Peace Section 6
To help people empathize
Dalit Movement
Sadness and empathy
Aisle L
Information Panels, films, photography, books, quotes
Insurgency in the North-East
Sadness and shock
Aisle M
Information Panels, films, photography, books, quotes
Climbing out into the open
A feeling of liberation and enlightenment. To feel
Aisles N, O, P, Q: Reaching a sky lit space creating a feeling of Coming of Age; the light being a metaphor for knowledge.
To state facts To give exposure to unseen documentaries and books Section 7
To help people empathize To state facts To give exposure to unseen documentaries and books
Section 8
To show the various developments and possibilities in different fields. To celebrate heroes (ordinary people in extreme situations)
7. Content and Media
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7.2 Content Matrix
The Loveland (2013) Gupt Dhan - Premchand Mantra - Premchand
Kashmir conflict and the Partition
Dalit Movement
1947: Earth (1998) Pinjar (2003) Train to Pakistan (1998) Khamosh Pani (2003) Tamas (1987) Midnight’s Children (2012) Garm Hava (1973)
Naya Daur (1957) Sujata (1959)
Train to Pakistan - Khushwant Singh (1956)
Untouchable(1936)-Mulk Raj Anand Nashaa-Premchand Kafan-Premchand
Li
te
ra
tu
re
1950s
C
in
em
a
Naxal Movement
at ur e te r Li
1960s
C
in
em
a
Ganga Jamuna (1961) The Lowland(2013)-Jhumpa Lahiri The God of Small Things (1993)Arundhuti Roy, Revolution Highway (2010) - Dilip Simeon,
Environmental Movement
Hungryalist Movement
North-East Insurgency
I am 20 Debi Roy:Poems: Unmad Shahar Kolkata O Aami Manush Manush Sampratik Tinjan Debi Royer Kobita Bhrukutir Birudhdhey Eka Ei Sei Tomar Desh Putulnaacher Gaan Sarbohara Tabu Ahankar Bharatvarsha Tomay Khunjchhey Aaguner Gaan Ekushey February Nirbachito Kobita Malay Roy Choudhury. Chicken Roast Preparation Motorbike Repeat Uhuru Humanology Classic Fraud The Light Objectivity House Arrest Dilemma Uncle Chapter Existence Throne of Weevil
* continued on the next spread
7. Content and Media
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Naxal Movement
Kashmir conflict and the Partition
Dalit Movement
Environmental Movement
Hungryalist Movement
North-East Insurgency
re tu ra te a em in
Hazaar Chaurasi ki maa (2005) Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (1999) Thalappavu (2008)
Chipko Movement ( 1970’s) On the Fence Silent Valley (1971) Only an Axe Army
A Fine Balance-Rohinston Mistry(1995)
te
ra t
ur e
C
1970s
Shakti Chattapadhyaya: Poems Ami Jai Abani, Are You Home? Bagane ki Dhorechchilo DinJay Ek Osukhe Dujon Ondho I can go, but why shall I? Amake Porao Atachora Bhitore Baire Bishom Juddho Choturdashpadi Kabitabali Ebar Hoyese Shondhya Ekbar Tumi Kisu Maya Roye Gelo Literature and Literary Life in Calcutta:The Age of Rabindranath’, Sukanta Chaudhuri,Calcutta, The Living City, Vol II.
Li
1960s
From ‘Jakham’
1980s
C
in
em
a
Li
Sadgati (1981) Ankur (1982)
Bhopal Gas Tragedy ( 1984) Bhopal: A Gas Tragedy Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain Bhopal Express One Night in Bhopal Shrouds of Silence It happened in Bhopal
Li
te ra t
ur e
Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985) Narmada: A valley Rises - Ali Kazini A Narmada Diary – Anand Patwardhan
English, AugustUpamanyu Chatterjee(1988), Hello Bastar (2011)-Rahul Pandita
Midnight’s Children Salman Rushdie 1981
* continued on the next spread
7. Content and Media
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Naxal Movement
Kashmir conflict and the Partition
re tu ra te a
North-East Insurgency
The God of Small Things (1993)
C
in
em
Environmental Movement Hungryalist Movement
Rudali(1993) Bandit Queen (1994) Tarpan (1994)
Li
1990s
Dalit Movement
Ko (2011) Red Alert: the war within (2010)
Ocean of Tears (2012) Inshallah Kashmir(2013) The Torture Trail (2013) Midnight’s Children (2012)
Jangalnama: Travels in a Maoist Guerilla Zone(2010) – Satnam
The Garden of Solitude - Siddhartha Gigoo (2010), Curfewed Night : A Frontline Memoir of Life, Love and War in Kashmir- Basharat Peer (2011)
Li
te
ra
tu
re
C
in
em
a
Li
2000s
te
ra
tu
re
The Killing of Kashmir (2005) Project Kashmir (2008) Kashmir Conflict – Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy (2009)
2010s
Out of this Earth (2010) – Samarendra Das, Felix Padel Sacrificing People: Invasions of a Tribal Landscape(2011) – Felix Padel
C
in
em
a
Ear to the Ground:Selected Writings on caste and class (2011) – K. Balagopal Lets Call Him Vasu, With the Maoists in Chhatisgarh(2012)- Shubranshu Choudhary Days and Nights in the Heartland of Rebeliion (2012) - Gautam Navlakha Highway 39: Journeys through a Fractured Land(2012) – Sudeep Chakravarti Walking with the Comdrades(2011) Arundhati Roy
Konilpatti Veeralakshmi (2003) (Tamil)
Era Bator Sur(movie) Le Mashale -Take the Torch, play on Irom Sharmila struggle
The White Tiger(2008)Aravind Adiga Nine Lives (2009) – William Darymple
Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur
Aarankshan (2011) Papilio Buddha (2013) (Malayalam)
8. Concepts
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8.1 Concept 1 The first idea was to construct a space that showcases our artifacts in a chronological order, and has different levels as to give various kinds of moods to the artifact presented. Different levels also act as a mean of interaction and use of various senses. The space also had glass partitions, placed in such a manner that one could read or see more than two issues linked to each other at once.
Top view
Perspective
8. Concepts
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8.2 Concept 2 In our next space, we through of a spiral like structure that gives one the experience for ‘Coming of Age� with every step taken and different levels reached. This space was imagined to be underground with the end leading to the open grounds, which gives you the sense of clarification and freedom. Walkthrough
The entry is through a narrow corridor that leads to a small chamber. The intention is to make the viewer feel uneasy as a comparison to a state before coming of age. The corridor leads to a small chamber. The size of the chamber is such that the viewer does not loose the uneasy feeling. Here the exhibition is introduced.
8. Concepts
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After the introduction, the viewer moves upwards through a series of steps onto the upper floor. This represents the willpower that one (a nation in this case) must muster to go ahead and face a challenge head on.
Once on the spiral floor, the content is represented in chronological order, giving the viewer a trip through the lesser known history of India.
8. Concepts
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While moving upward, the close confines of the lower levels slowly begin to widen and there is more space. This gives the viewer a sense of relief, representing the feeling of freedom and liberation.
9. Final Concept
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9.1 Concept description We decided to carry forward our second idea and to work on the curation of content as well. There is no certain age at which one comes of age. The spiral symbolizes our moving around in circles, and how we tend to ‘Come of Age’ numerous times in our lives. We decide to use the mediums of cinema, photography and literature for this museum. The narrative is in a chronological order. The idea is for the space to have various segregations or quadrants that will each deal with a different issue.
9.2 Types of Interaction The museum will feature artifacts of multiple media. There will be artifacts displayed in the form of projected video clips, audio clips, photographs and books or quotes from the books as a wall mural. Text will also be incorporated into the displays or can also be made prominently visible as a standalone display on its own. These media are limited in terms of their physical inter activity. They are static displays and do not offer the viewer a means to involve directly with the artifact. More inter activity can be introduced (after a deeper study of the content) through the use of technologies such as motion tracking coupled with video projections to give a more immersive experience. The exhibition offers another level of inter activity as it gives the viewer the option to sit and browse through the books and view the movies at a given time.
9. Final Concept
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9.3 Layout
O
N K
J G
F C
H L
D
B A
E I
P
M
Q
Quadrant
Ramp width
Display
Subject
A
2000-2360
3-4 objects/artefacts from the Partition
Partition
(mm)
Information panels B
2360-2720
Screening space
Partition
C
2720-3080
Screening space
Partition * continued on next page
9. Final Concept
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Quadrant
Ramp width
Display
Subject
D
3080-3440
Reading and conversation space
Partition
E
3440-3800
Reading room
Hungryalist Movement
(mm)
Projection of black and white photos from the 1960’s with an audio of poems in the background F
3800-4180
Screening space
Naxal Movement
G
4180-4520
Information Panels
Naxal Movement
Reading room H
4520-4880
Screening space
Environmental Movement
I
4880-5240
Artefacts/object displays
Environmental movement
Information panels Reading room J
5240-5600
Screening space
Kashmir conflict
K
5600-5960
Reading space
Kashmir conflict
L
5960-6320
Screening space
Dalit Movement
Reading space Information panels M
6320-6680
Screening space Reading space
Insurgency in the North East
Information panels N,O,P,Q
6680
Exit open to sky Installation
General
9. Final Concept
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9.4 Walkthrough
9. Final Concept
Shelves for artefacts
displaying
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9. Final Concept
Individual viewing stations for films
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9. Final Concept
Screening and discussion space
25
9. Final Concept
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9.5 Detailed Renders
9. Final Concept
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9. Final Concept
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