HOW sbtd

How sbtd

Understanding structures

My fascination towards structures started after I had a worked extensively in the Srishti workshop. My understanding started developing as I started creating “piece” out of several Pieces. The way a machine intervene a ply sheet is how I look at my present interventions in space.

From a blank sheet, its transformation into something that is more accessible. 

While making structures I have power of controlling the basic structure, its ergonomics and its strength but it’s important to take in consideration these three keys points. 

I was under constant assistance by Mr. David and Prasad sir while working with the machines. Creation of the design took 2 days and 3^rd day I had to figure out the angles, measurements, ergonomics and the kind of wood I’ll be using. 

On the 4^th day I showed them the design and Mr. Prasad told me it was going to be easy but building structures is one of the hardest things I had to do.

 It involves a lot of learning through failure. Whether it was joining 10 degree angle of a 1 inch thick, 40 by 24 inches triangle to a 24 by 12 triangular piece or sanding the triangles to the perfect 10 degree, if failed trying to tweak the angle a little bit and matching it with the other piece.. 

Joining the wooden piece involved usage of 1 and 2 inches nails, fevicol SH, Araldite, M seal and nuts and bots.

 It involved painting so the ply went through a lot of manual sanding and on the third day I realized the importance of mask, it rescued me from a really bad cold due to saw dust.

The best learning apart from the technicalities was that never compromise on the design

and the ergonomics. 

I made the base and the Angular back rest individually. There were some negative remarks regarding the weight of the base and the back rest. But with immense trust in math, material and myself I was able to make a working model.

This is when I realized that to understand any space or structure, building and experiencing that built up is really important. 

Painting after sanding for three days

Sanding the piece according to the ergonomic angle

customizing the nails according 

Always wear a mask

Covering the nail holes with m seal

The judgement day, joining the two major parts, base and the back rest.

Sbtd at the exhibition.

Last Piece

“Last Piece”, is the start of a new enquiry that I address now through combination of my practice and other image makers.This work marks my end as a student in Srishti. It's difficult to write objectively about it since it involves stages and layers of making “me” and my practice.

This piece is simple and self explanatory. What defines it is the stability it provides to the past existing empty wall and how the site has accessibility to the existing architecture. This sync with the existing architecture was achieved using the existing spacial element, stairs and railing, and the illusion was achieved by connecting them.

Any interaction made with this image involves the viewer looking at the entire site. This contact could be from any direction or perspective, still involves looking at the entire site. The selection of color and the vantage point involved this idea of trying to use the color that mellowed well with the site. Whenever I looked at this site, before my intervention, it felt like a seamless combination of the immeasurable sky and the vast Metro lying beneath it. The blue had to be a part of the work, but the shades were something I made myself and the railing color was inspired by the existing ones.

The floor was a great experience. Not to brag but I finished it in 7 days, 875 sq. ft , with rains really pulling me down and this time the interaction with passer by public was more compared to while working on the wall, because of the scaff. But the interactions involved sharing thought rather than asking questions, which seemed like a progress for me. 

Work In Progress

Its been quite some time on this piece. Coming back to Peenya Metro Station to finish what I had started almost a year back. 

This journey has been so overwhelming and honestly I am waiting for the next step. 

This piece is my final work for my Diploma project but the process to reach at this idea has been so adventurous. I want to explain the piece once I finish it. Right now I am in a place where I am concentrating on being onsite. 

There are different experiences every day. 

Whether it’s the rain or going up and down the scaffolding or the ladder a hundredth time to get that perfect angle to kill the corner and make the stairs with a flow. 

Or answering to passing by audience about the wall, asking about their opinion or when I am feeling extremely tired and someone would just come and encourage me just by saying that they really appreciate this initiation of painting and it gives me the energy to go back on the scaff and work; when they try to understand what I am doing instead of just asking me what I am doing.

Making visualization and finishing the piece has its own place but the most important part is working onsite and being in a constant enquiry with your piece. Fortunately I have Ishita , Veda and Fabrice working on their individual sites in the Metro so that we share our different experiences and help each other if one has hard time working and be in constant conversation regarding our processes. 

Inside Out

Collaboration Piece with Ishita Biswas

Working in collaboration with Ishita is one of the most important and useful interventions that I have conducted. We both have a different way of interpreting and assessing site. After the Bombay trip I was anxious to see how I take the process forward. This collaboration made me more aware of the steps I take while ideating on site. Its different cause there is someone with whom you constantly discuss the decisions that you plan on taking. This was one of the smoothest collaboration when it came to expressing thoughts.

“Inside out”, is a dialogue, narrative that the site creates within itself and the viewer. A dialogue that the under construction structural elements like the broken walls, corroded iron rods have with the only complete structure in that vicinity, the watchman shelter. We have used the elements present onsite to help us navigate through the image. It felt like creating an open ended entrance. 

Sketch onsite

Yelahanka New Town Market, Bangalore

Watchmen's quarter. The only almost constructed structure in that under construction area. 

Working Onsite

Working outside involves both intense physical exertion and mental involvement. Bright sun above you, constant crowd passing by that want to know what you are doing, your hand doesn't stop working, 

If you are working on floor you need to consider the traffic. Site inspection and awareness are also very important. Please carry sun block, glares, liquids, fruits, food, water, appropriate clothes, sport shoes and constantly take breaks. 

Working onsite is a stimulating cycle of responding to queries. You may ask what these queries are but what’s more important is how each intervention is aimed at informing those queries and not resolving them. This constant state of forming queries helps me think and respond through site. 

The first and the most important thing is to ask for permission. You are just leaving an image behind but the occupants have to live with that image. As the aim of this process is not pasting a pretty picture on the wall, but at the same time being efficient in whatever medium you choose to execute your work with onsite.

New project at the Peenya Metro Station

This was my first intervention in a public space. 
The query that I was trying to address here was where I place myself as a public artist.

Shone

Playfulness within structures, exhibited in public, displayed in different ways initiates

interaction with these elements like a smooth conversation. 

This dialogue is achieved by playing with application of single color that portrays reflection of single structure painted over group of structures.

I used spray cans for this simple application. It is quick and easy but I would rather prefer paints.

It took me time to realize that working onsite is not similar to working on a canvas.

Switching mediums is still a work in progress.

Distort

Emerging perpendicular from the ground yet structures like pillars go unnoticed. These lines, vertical to horizontal, need to be exploited to their fullest potential. Highlighting these elements tend to signify their presence as markers of place making for that community. 

This was a one day intervention.The application was achieved using a ladder and roller attached to a steel rod.