"The view of these ruins is very imposing and humiliating;
these massive structures meant to endure forever, have become ruins,
to be gazed at and pitied, to stand desolate and shattered,
by apparently the weakest agencies, mementos alike of human wisdom and of human folly,
of power and of weakness of man's aspirations, and of their disappointment."
Joseph Beglar
Joseph Beglar
Each set (1-8) represents one of the eight settlements recorded in the history of Delhi. Gates, as boundaries between the built and natural spaces were used as bridges between the built and natural environment. Water reservoirs from the past were also used, being the fuel which drives life and by extension, the human colony.
This project questions the ephemerality of cities, in context to the short lived lives of seasonal leaves.
This project questions the ephemerality of cities, in context to the short lived lives of seasonal leaves.
1. Lalkot circa. 1052 AD.
Surajkund Stepwell on Shahtoot leaves (left), Chaumukha Darwaza on Peepal leaves (right)
2. Siri circa. 1302 AD.
Siri Fort Wall on Peepal leaves (left), South Gate on Chamba leaves (right)
3. Tughlaqabad circa. 1321 AD.
Fort Bastions and Ghiyas-Ud-Din Tughlaq’s Mausoleum on Chamba leaf (left), Tughlaqabad Baoli on Peepal leaves (right)
4. Jahanpannah circa. 1327 AD.
Satpula on Shahtoot leaves (left), Begumpur Masjid on Peepal leaves (right)
5. Firozabad circa. 1354 AD.
Baoli (Firozshah Kotla) on Peepal leaves (left), Feroz Shah Kotla with Ashokan Pillar on Peepal leaves (right)
6. Din Panah circa. 1533 AD.
Talaqi Darwaza, Purana Qila on Peepal leaves (left), Bada Darwaza, Purana Qila on Peepal leaves (right)
7. Shahjahanabad circa. 1640 AD.
Kashmiri Gate on Ashoka leaves (left), Lahori Gate on Peepal leaves (right)
Lutyen's Delhi circa. 1915 AD
India Gate on Chamba leaves (left), 2. Central Fountain, Rashtrapati Bhavan on Peepal leaves (right)
The process involved a highly experimental trial and error method. Other than obvious variables like the species of plant high degrees of differing sensitivity were observed even within the foliage from a single plant. These have been attributed to the age of the leaf, its daily exposure to the sun, and hence the photosensitivity and colour.
The ultimate goal, absolutely minimising waste in the process of printing an image was achieved after a series of consistent reproductions.
A street display of the pieces was conducted, using seasonally trimmed foliage as the backdrop for their printed counterparts. The artefacts have been preserved using glycerin to retain their physicality.
