Himal / Himalaya

Based on my Visual Culture class, I am trying to do an experiment here with the way maps are represented. We spoke about politics of representation, Euro-centric world map, politics of mapping in our class.

And for a long time I was searching for this upside down map of the world, which I could finally source from here:

I am wondering why Himal Map is called so. On a wild and obvious guess, I present one of the immediate images that google displays on keywords "Himal Map":

Is the reference to the Himalayas (the crest referring to the new figure of the map?). Seems interesting. Errrr, but the real reason is this. Anyway, I think it may be an interesting coincidence for HIMALaya crests to look like the Himal Map of India.

At Kanchanjunga

Palghar

We went to Palghar over the weekend (2nd year students and faculty). However, I guess we were closer to Kelve. Spent some time in peaceful places, cool shadows and timber buildings.

I think i kept harassing the students forcing them to work. Although they visited the same places last year apparently, no one knows where they lost all the documentation work of these places done by them. Anyway, we looked at the buildings more closely. I had to constantly feed in techniques of measuring things. I had strictly instructed the students not to get camera. So there was no drama of photo sessions. Inspite of that, I do not think they observed. Neither did they see. They kept missing some of the key things to take note of.

The gujju gang kept themselves busy with periodical eating rounds. I wondered if there was nothing else that the space prompted them to do. No one discussed anything about space (perhaps because they had already been there last year).

Visiting Mahendra Kale's office, I felt reassured about my decision to stay away from architectural practice for a while. I wondered if he felt conscious of me being around while he explained the structural concepts to students. Anyway, it was really nice of him to have arranged the entire visit for us.

Teen Turmoils

In my quest to help students, sometimes, I overspend my time on them. I don't realize how much time I put into them without any knowledge of what it would manifest into? And it is so difficult to take the role of a counselor. The last stage of the teen age is the most perplexing, most difficult - because you have to decide and take a stand for yourself. I too was so confused at this point of time in my life. I didnot know what was my calling. I wanted to leave architecture, not knowing what I would do...

But I stayed on, precisely because I didnot know what I would do? And another year passed. Over this year, I just spent time in drawings - making just immaculate drawings. Rotrings - I almost fell in love with them. I would spend a lot of time in the library - looking at old, really old books, looking at drawings. Unfortunately, we did not even have faculty who could excite us with our work. Mundane people - clumsy faces... Same old sheets. What else would one do? I kept looking at books, buildings - just tracing them - without knowing why. I didnt even know how to look at books - what to understand out of it! At that time, it was only drawing to the rescue. This is when my performance dropped.

Fourth year cracked because of Prasad Shetty - and I still remember one question he asked while discussing 'histories" in Research Methods class: "Is your grandfather not important?". This invoked a whole new sense of interest in myself. That is where it started...I used to go after classes and ask him one line questions - on generalizations, on opinions. He would say "But these generalizations are not coming from nowhere." And I spent my time only in analyzing these statements he made. Thats all. He would never give answers. He still never gives answers.

But at this point of time in my life, I met some key people: Madhumita Nandi, Ateya and others. A whole new explorations took place. But going back to this confusion, Ateya once told me: "Look at people whom you like - what path did they follow, do you want to be like them?" And it was all about finding the right people and the right paths then. It gave a lot of food for observation and thought. Life seems different now, where I am out of that state of haze. But I can relate to students who feel lost. And it is in such cases having ideal people become important. Having role models become important. Ofcourse, I may have said earlier that in being 'like' someone, we lose ourselves, but we need to be like someone also to know whom we dont want to be like. Being neutral is unproductive. And especially in this world, being unproductive is senseless.

But I dont even know whether whatever I speak to students makes sense to them. Or does it help them. And what if I misguide them by mistake, or what if they misinterpret me? I am too cynical sometimes, and I dont know if those who trust me, too get influenced. That is not something I ever intend to do. I dont know how cynicism or sarcasm affects students. But that has become a part of me. I just feel sorry for too many people experiencing the same old difficulties and insecurities of life. So I just try to listen to them. And there are times when I avoid them - because I dont know if i have a role to play really. Who am I?

Sometimes I feel so many of them are wasting their potentials, but it's their choice. Sometimes I also feel that students take undue advantage of the time I spend with them. I know all that - but I just try dont let it bother me in the 'benefit of doubt' principle - that it's their loss if they do so. But I dont know how this immense problem of not being able to cope up with the field / study of architecture can be more subtle.

I guess eventually people find their way. Just that it must not be too late. Otherwise, being cynical again, I think life is a b****. Life is the step mother of time I guess. Or vice versa. Anyway, whats the point of going into that kind of negativity.

As Dushyant and I would conclude: What is, is is.

(and I don't know how many times I have use don't in the post and I don't want to use more don'ts - what else do you do with language, anyway!)

First Year AD Jury: Expression Spaces

I myself waited with this project and made my fellow faculty wait for a long time before the final jury could be taken. It was because I was not satisfied with the amount of time the students spent in their process of evolving their design. However, the final jury for the 3rd project of the first year students, I felt, had much more content than discussed in the session.

The project was about making and expression space of a professional (profession) by deriving patterns out of their working conditions (behavioural, habitual, through their objects they use or deal in, etc.). We chose 40 professions to begin with - a variety of them - from the vada pav seller, dabbawala to the Chartered Accountant or the Dancer. To limit the scale/scope of the project for the first year, we restricted the area to 50 sq m. I shall be writing a formal "retrospect" brief for this project later.

Each design had so much potential, and each designer had so much enthusiasm. And so I too got enthused. The above sketches were made as I thought along with the students. Of a postman, a space in the wells of the staircase ringing door bells and looking into interiors of houses framed through keyholes and cut-outs in safety doors, of a barber - looking at multiple hairstyles, almost living in hair. For an astronaut, we thought of the ground plane, which is never flat - rather someone who spent time in undefined plane. So the undulating surface enclosed in a space which would be under constant air pressure. However, the student took a complete different trajectory and made something like pneumatic slabs. He lifted this inhabitable expressive space a feet above the ground, thus it being in space (ungrounded) while the user entered or left the space.

For the tailor, we began with the idea of playing between the 3 critical numbers: shoulders-chest-waist. These numbers define the body and in turn, the garment. The idea could have been abstracted into a series of such hangers sized to people. However, the idea was lost. The pattern in the fisherman's profession was seen to be a daily passage between solid ground to the non-ground. This pattern of transition between surfaces that the fisherman inhabits was what we tried to explore. The idea was abstracted through the symbolic net, which becomes a surface to walk as well as envelop. The movement it induces in the body is similar to the movement from land to sea (and vice versa) by cleverly spacing the structural members of the support. I am not sure if the student brought out this aspect clearly. There was perhaps a little conceptual misunderstanding.

A rigorous process followed for the dabbawala - of analysing the codes on the dabbas to evolving it into a spatial configuration. This was truly the most fascinating project in the class. Others were that of the joker, achieved through the act of juggling, and completely colourful while another interesting one was the magician, where I tried to crack the idea of anti-pattern (that a magician works with). Although it was a tricky profession, if there was a little more rigour in the project, it would have worked brilliantly. But theorizing the whole idea of magic for architectural space was something that I enjoyed in my mind. I didnot discuss it with the student since it would make no sense to her. So I kept myself low-key.

I think the students got an idea of anthropometrics and the process of evolution of space. Since the first two projects were too exploratory in terms of form, we consciously kept this one as an exercise for evolving space. Now, we need to introduce them to function, while the students need to learn how to communicate their designs ideas through their work.

photo titles in order (expression spaces of):

bus conductor

priest

magician

bus conductor

dietician

dermatologist

astronaut

Raag based item songs...

Sitting back and pondering over music, it occurred to me that some of the most raunchy songs in Bollywood are based purely on Indian Classical Ragas. Here are some:

Dhak Dhak Karne Laga, Beta

Raag Shivranjani

Sunta Hai Mera Khuda, Pukar

Raag Bhairav

Tu cheez badi hai mast mast, Mohra

Raag Bhimpalaas

Hai Rama yeh Kya Hua, Rangeela

Raag Poorvi

Is Pyaar ko main kya naam doon, Mujhe kuch kehna Hai

Raag Shivranjani

will add more if i get more. I have detailed writings to write on music. dont know how to put it down. Anyways. lets see...

Comic of the day

Of unknown imagic realities

When I went back to inquire about my lost wallet at the counter, they said that they dispose off any item that is left in their space after waiting for a few hours. I reached late. It seemed that they passed my wallet through some device like a paper cutting machine, because I could see that my purse was split into thin slices - My notes, passes, cards, and the leather of the purse too. I wondered what kind of a place that was, where they didn't even bother removing the money inside the purse? They could have used it themselves, if not me. How could they be so selfless in disposal? I collected the bits and pieces of my sliced wallet, cut notes (which almost seemed like chopped cabbage) and carried it back.

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At once, only one single peacock came and dashed into my forehead. It felt soft. Later, they grew in number. In series one after the other, all entered into my forehead. I did not feel them inside me. Where did they go if they hit me on my forehead? Where did they disappear? Did they melt in me - why don't I see the wings? Why don't I feel the tickle of the feathers - just the long neck and streamlined body hitting me like a wagon. Like a train of birds bursting into me...

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The creatures were colourful. They looked like beautiful stones with patterns. They were small button-like things falling on to the green leaves. I wondered if I had seen them ever in my life. I reassured myself of all discovery channel programmes on tiny creatures. But these did not confirm to anything that I had seen earlier! How could such creatures (whom we would woosh away) be so beautiful? Those shiny beatle-like little moving creatures on the leaves - I wondered if I must woosh them away or keep gazing at them.

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A thousand butterflies hit my head. They were colourful, all flying in a line. Forcefully. But they were weightless. I don't remember how they entered me, where they went? But they came.

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I kept thinking that it was an aeroplane. Perhaps I felt so because it was a tubular. But when it would not show me anything in the sky (nor did it take off), and moved only in an opaque tube/pipe/tunnel, I corroborated to myself that it must be a train. The tube turned and twisted - I am not sure how I recognize the turns and twists - perhaps due to the movements in my bowels. After some time, it gushed into a larger volume, I could finally see some spiraling tracks. I got down from there and moved towards the exit from the station. As I came out, I realized that I was in Japan. But how did I realize that it was Japan? I had never seen Japan! But at that time, I felt, it was Japan.

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Someone shot a rifle in my abdomen. A fountain of blood came out. But it did not hurt me at all! How was that possible? I did not even see who did it! I pressed my abdomen to stop the flowing blood, but not to control my pain. Because it did not pain at all.

****

I haven't understood my dreams! But they are fascinating. And I would like to learn more about them. Why these set of images for me in my dreams? Have to be decoded.

Any takers?

Ideas worth exploring in pedagogy:

Problem House:

That all students pin up their "problems" with any subject onto a board alloted to them for a week. Perhaps each class has a dedicated board. Every one is free to respond to any one. Its a physical sharing of problems and solution.

FMS (Flexible Marking Scheme):

That Students themselves give dates of when they want to be assessed. As in, they set markers for themselves. How it works? If a project goes on for 10 weeks, students are asked to keep 3 assessment dates for themselves during the process. They work according to their time schedule and not the faculty's.

EAC (English Assistance Cell):

The place where students would go to communicate their thoughts in better english (written and oral and any other) - for all students who are trained / not trained in English.

Annual Day at AOA

The annual Day of Academy at Rachana Sansad was fantastic. I enjoyed all programmes and the end also left me in nostalgia. I missed my class mates. I missed myself being on stage. I missed making mistakes on stage. All that...
There were 3 performances on Sheila ki jawaani. And I loved the fact that no one cared about the lyrics: particularly the part "I'm to sexy for you" - it was almost a lament when these sweet simple girls from first and second year performed it. But it's the music that we are supposed to enjoy anyway! Who cares what the lyrics are!

Similarly, profanity & erotica was everywhere - in plays, songs, and performances. I particularly liked the skit by the hostel-ites. It dwelled on the idea of separation from homes and the craving of the body for another. Where on one hand, it surfaced the tension of being alone, it also somehow brought out its translation into the need to feel another flesh. Does it mean physical security or craving for another physical body, I dont know. But on the other hand, it elaborated how such ideas are negotiated by them - from pseudo-sensuality to actually being subconsciously pushed to making relations with the opposite / (same?) sex, or make them voyeuristic, or developing uncommon habits to curb these thoughts...It is difficult to imagine how are these thoughts survived. How do they manifest?

Also of how we like being like someone. Imitations, replications, representations - all of it. And there is this huge amount of fun in all of it - erotica, mimicking, voyeurism, comments...And amidst, messages are slipped - who likes whom, who dislikes whom, what do they think of certain teachers, what they think of their study, what they think of things around them - that is the power of a space (here I mean space in the realm of public, made by public).

And I was wondering how background sound with huge amount of images irrespectively makes you nostalgic - especially if the images relate to your past. But that's essential I suppose. After all, we do build relations over 5 years, and they are validated thus!?

I liked what my class performed. And i particularly liked the selection of their song - Choli ke peeche kya hai. The song is grooving and all of them danced so well. I hoped to have more of my friends (students) on stage. Many of them are too conscious perhaps. But I am sure they will resolve this unnecessary and unwanted issue of the 'self-complex' in the years to come.

What I constantly asked myself all the time was: "Anuj, do you want to be in this cyclic college atmosphere all your life?" - it was scary. Rather, I haven't clarified this for myself. I then saw Suresh Singh, Jagdish Rajde, Sachin, Pooja and others, and felt a bit reassured. But the question is not answered. What do I see myself as 10 years down the line? And in some ways, it also echoes Correa's question to me: "Do you want to teach all your life?" - Why would he pose it to me? Oormi once said: "Anuj, the profession needs people like you. The state of the environment is such only because people like you choose not to practice." But I say to myself, "Teaching is my practice." This debate with myself is endless. But what is more important to me is that I am doing what I enjoy doing. That's it. What is work if you force yourself to do it! Maybe, when I am contemplative again, I shall elaborate this over a new post.

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reflections:

The only silly part was the presentation of the NASA AVs. both of which i felt were absolutely silly - in the way they were designed, and the way they were presented. but they would never know how to speak for a presentation, unless they go out of their only mythic NASA space, to other talks, and see how to TALK! (I am referring to the way you deliver a speech, the tone of your voice, the confidence with which you speak, the emphasis on certain words in your speech, etc.). They love to make their powerpoint presentations animated - even where it's not required - and it always jams their computers. That's to show off their skill! The Panels had so much text that even a book would fail to contain it! And the drawings were to technical to be creative. There were hardly any graphics showing the context of the design in the surrounding but; hold on - there were details of how beds would be placed in the room and what would be the bedsheet covers like! Especially the police officers mess' spoke all about the swimming pools and gymnaesiums, but never about the aspect of policing - and how its probable translation into an architectural language! I wondered if that's the was cited as the best NASA design, what would the other 100 designs be!


THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH REWORDED:
I remained unimpressed with the work displayed by students who participated in NASA convention this year. Although one could see a lot of work, it was difficult to relate the design to the aspect of policing. The design did not speak about how the architectural language related to the activity of the police force. The representational skills that were used for the presentation, i felt, needed to be explored beyond 3d views and plans sections. It would have been really nice if there was a feel of 'discipline' (as would the police have) in the verbal presentation of the visuals. It would have really been interesting to watch at the panels if all of the text was more graphical, and diagrammatic. I almost felt disinterested in reading plenty of text - filling up every inch of the panel. There needed to be some breather space to appreciate the drawings. This is where I felt that the representation drew from its earlier counterparts. Being involved in NASA since 1st year, when I was briefed using NASA sheets of 5 years prior to 2003, and having read all of them in the past 8 years (so in all a reading of NASA of 13-15 years), the tools of representation should have been able to mature much more, which has failed to take place.

However, what is worth learning is the dedication and the rigour put in the work. But one has to always keep a check that this discipline must not regulate the creative thought and ways of creative thinking. According to me, Indiscipline is essential for creativity. Because, indiscipline has a pattern of production. This should be explored and channelised. Creativity many a times in the realm of NASA has been about cartooning how they slept at odd hours, or how 'new' couples were paired, or inconsequential things like that. But seldom have they explored cartooning as a way of presenting their entire panel! The sheets draw representation ideas from 10 year old NASA sheets - of the self! All are horse-blinded!

Anyway, even if people learn that, it should be enough. At least they get into the act of production. I hope they met new people, discussed ideas and did not lose out opportunity of networking in the chase of displaying their rivalry with others.

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And for the first time, I took no photos of the event. I realized that photos distance you from the engagement. I was thoroughly in the crowd and I am glad I did not get into archiving it!