Trees Can't Walk

A solo show as a result of my interaction with people from various cultural backgrounds during a residency at Gästeatelier Krone Aarau, in Switzerland in 2011. In this series, I have explored the idea of being an outsider in Switzerland. Living here for a short but insightful period of six months, I was drawn to the intriguing lives of people whose stories pivot around an attempt, often a struggle, to make their adopted land their home. The work began by capturing stories of individuals who had come to Switzerland, some seeking asylum, others seeking sustenance and livelihood or whose lives are still in transit. Their journeys mirror collective fears and hopes that revolve around a deeper need for belonging. By identifying myself also as ‘the other’, the images produced reflect impressions of my experience in Switzerland and are presented in the form of a visual tapestry which includes metaphorical ‘Postcards Back Home’ that I wanted to share with family and friends in India while another part deals with the barrier that language, as an expression of culture, erects. It is called the ‘Wall Of Words’.

Culturally, we all carry distinct markers. These could be language, social habits or attire, place of birth or colour of skin. It’s a situation that raises many questions. It also provides an opportunity for conversation. As Herman Hesse says, ‘meeting points between people open up spaces of affinity to imagine the world to be a home’.