[Applause] hello everybody
hello everybody
hello everybody today I’ll be actually sharing with you
today I’ll be actually sharing with you
today I’ll be actually sharing with you a story that started 5000 years ago yes
a story that started 5000 years ago yes
a story that started 5000 years ago yes it is the story of metal casting in
it is the story of metal casting in
it is the story of metal casting in India this little figurine this little
India this little figurine this little
India this little figurine this little figurine that you’re seeing in my hand
figurine that you’re seeing in my hand
figurine that you’re seeing in my hand this is a copy of the dancing girl the
this is a copy of the dancing girl the
this is a copy of the dancing girl the bronze figurine which was found in the
bronze figurine which was found in the
bronze figurine which was found in the excavations of mohenjo-daro and that
excavations of mohenjo-daro and that
excavations of mohenjo-daro and that goes back 3,000 years BCE so this was as
goes back 3,000 years BCE so this was as
goes back 3,000 years BCE so this was as cited as the first example of metal
cited as the first example of metal
cited as the first example of metal casting using the lost wax technique
casting using the lost wax technique
casting using the lost wax technique lost-wax technique to tell you simply is
lost-wax technique to tell you simply is
lost-wax technique to tell you simply is you know first you create the thing in
you know first you create the thing in
you know first you create the thing in wax then you cover it with two layers of
wax then you cover it with two layers of
wax then you cover it with two layers of clay you allow it to dry then you fire
clay you allow it to dry then you fire
clay you allow it to dry then you fire it so the wax melts hence the name the
it so the wax melts hence the name the
it so the wax melts hence the name the lost wax technique then you pour molten
lost wax technique then you pour molten
lost wax technique then you pour molten brass into it within minutes it
brass into it within minutes it
brass into it within minutes it solidifies and you break open the mold
solidifies and you break open the mold
solidifies and you break open the mold so by definition each piece is unique
so by definition each piece is unique
so by definition each piece is unique because you have broken open the mold
because you have broken open the mold
because you have broken open the mold what is amazing is that this ancient
what is amazing is that this ancient
what is amazing is that this ancient technique is still practiced today in
technique is still practiced today in
technique is still practiced today in many parts of our country and not much
many parts of our country and not much
many parts of our country and not much has changed today what I’m going to talk
has changed today what I’m going to talk
has changed today what I’m going to talk to you about is how we have evolved this
to you about is how we have evolved this
to you about is how we have evolved this now when you talk of evolving tradition
now when you talk of evolving tradition
now when you talk of evolving tradition it seems a bit contradictory because
it seems a bit contradictory because
it seems a bit contradictory because tradition is something that continues
tradition is something that continues
tradition is something that continues from the past something that we cherish
from the past something that we cherish
from the past something that we cherish almost against the onslaught of the
almost against the onslaught of the
almost against the onslaught of the modern so it seems like an oxymoron when
modern so it seems like an oxymoron when
modern so it seems like an oxymoron when I say that you know what is evolving
I say that you know what is evolving
I say that you know what is evolving today
today
today but I realized that ours is a living
but I realized that ours is a living
but I realized that ours is a living tradition and if you you cannot preserve
tradition and if you you cannot preserve
tradition and if you you cannot preserve it like a museum piece
it like a museum piece
it like a museum piece you cannot preserve it like a fossil
you cannot preserve it like a fossil
you cannot preserve it like a fossil like a mummy from Egypt more than
like a mummy from Egypt more than
like a mummy from Egypt more than preserving it has to be nurtured and
preserving it has to be nurtured and
preserving it has to be nurtured and this is what then you know if I were to
this is what then you know if I were to
this is what then you know if I were to join now my story to this five thousand
join now my story to this five thousand
join now my story to this five thousand years of tradition it begins only 20
years of tradition it begins only 20
years of tradition it begins only 20 years back when we came from Mumbai to
years back when we came from Mumbai to
years back when we came from Mumbai to punch Guinea lock stock and barrel
punch Guinea lock stock and barrel
punch Guinea lock stock and barrel with the two kids I mean has been
with the two kids I mean has been
with the two kids I mean has been talking about they were very tiny then
talking about they were very tiny then
talking about they were very tiny then and it was in fact I started my work
and it was in fact I started my work
and it was in fact I started my work with a diverse ee artists only ten years
with a diverse ee artists only ten years
with a diverse ee artists only ten years back and it was under this tree under
back and it was under this tree under
back and it was under this tree under this tree that the work started when I
this tree that the work started when I
this tree that the work started when I met Suresh Bugatti and I reversed the
met Suresh Bugatti and I reversed the
met Suresh Bugatti and I reversed the artists teacher in one of the schools
artists teacher in one of the schools
artists teacher in one of the schools here and soon we started growing and
here and soon we started growing and
here and soon we started growing and next picture I’d show you this is our
next picture I’d show you this is our
next picture I’d show you this is our first group of apprentices in fact who
first group of apprentices in fact who
first group of apprentices in fact who are now master craftsmen who are living
are now master craftsmen who are living
are now master craftsmen who are living here in Panch Guinea in fact two of them
here in Panch Guinea in fact two of them
here in Panch Guinea in fact two of them have also got married and now we are
have also got married and now we are
have also got married and now we are actually growing like the community you
actually growing like the community you
actually growing like the community you know one day what happened I noticed a
know one day what happened I noticed a
know one day what happened I noticed a lot of whispers and some secretive thing
lot of whispers and some secretive thing
lot of whispers and some secretive thing going on between the craftsmen the
going on between the craftsmen the
going on between the craftsmen the apprentices and when I asked them they
apprentices and when I asked them they
apprentices and when I asked them they showed me this they were making it as a
showed me this they were making it as a
showed me this they were making it as a birthday present for Teresa another
birthday present for Teresa another
birthday present for Teresa another irony you know I tell the story of the
irony you know I tell the story of the
irony you know I tell the story of the riot village with this because the irony
riot village with this because the irony
riot village with this because the irony is that that if this boy hadn’t
is that that if this boy hadn’t
is that that if this boy hadn’t commander you know hadn’t come to us he
commander you know hadn’t come to us he
commander you know hadn’t come to us he could have been recruited by the
could have been recruited by the
could have been recruited by the Naxalites and could have been using a
Naxalites and could have been using a
Naxalites and could have been using a real gun
real gun
real gun so one realize that if you’re thinking
so one realize that if you’re thinking
so one realize that if you’re thinking of sustaining art you have to think of
of sustaining art you have to think of
of sustaining art you have to think of the artist cut bit in the crossfire
the artist cut bit in the crossfire
the artist cut bit in the crossfire between the Naxalites and the police the
between the Naxalites and the police the
between the Naxalites and the police the state without any marketing facilities
state without any marketing facilities
state without any marketing facilities yes very little choice left this is how
yes very little choice left this is how
yes very little choice left this is how we began and so then one had to think
we began and so then one had to think
we began and so then one had to think about how to make it into a living for
about how to make it into a living for
about how to make it into a living for them so can you see this gun now this is
them so can you see this gun now this is
them so can you see this gun now this is stone and this is brass now this fusion
stone and this is brass now this fusion
stone and this is brass now this fusion of stone and brass this technique was
of stone and brass this technique was
of stone and brass this technique was never tried in the five
never tried in the five
never tried in the five thousand-year-old history of this art
thousand-year-old history of this art
thousand-year-old history of this art form which is now known as doe Kragh so
form which is now known as doe Kragh so
form which is now known as doe Kragh so it’d be kinda the very simple desire in
it’d be kinda the very simple desire in
it’d be kinda the very simple desire in my mind I had seen statues made in metal
my mind I had seen statues made in metal
my mind I had seen statues made in metal and satyrs made and stone could we put
and satyrs made and stone could we put
and satyrs made and stone could we put it together and integrate it into one
it together and integrate it into one
it together and integrate it into one hole
hole
hole so with two years of experimentation and
so with two years of experimentation and
so with two years of experimentation and a lot of hard work we finally cracked it
a lot of hard work we finally cracked it
a lot of hard work we finally cracked it so this was a first piece nature goddess
so this was a first piece nature goddess
so this was a first piece nature goddess once this was a success then of course
once this was a success then of course
once this was a success then of course we started flying as if so just to
we started flying as if so just to
we started flying as if so just to compare it with traditional Tokra craft
compare it with traditional Tokra craft
compare it with traditional Tokra craft I’ll show you now this is traditional
I’ll show you now this is traditional
I’ll show you now this is traditional Tokra craft and so here there is a basic
Tokra craft and so here there is a basic
Tokra craft and so here there is a basic core of clay and they do it but it’s so
core of clay and they do it but it’s so
core of clay and they do it but it’s so sad to think that today in Chattisgarh
sad to think that today in Chattisgarh
sad to think that today in Chattisgarh often I hear when these craftsmen come
often I hear when these craftsmen come
often I hear when these craftsmen come there art pieces are sold by the kilo so
there art pieces are sold by the kilo so
there art pieces are sold by the kilo so this is the condition why because it has
this is the condition why because it has
this is the condition why because it has lost its vitality if you keep on
lost its vitality if you keep on
lost its vitality if you keep on repeating the same thing it loses its
repeating the same thing it loses its
repeating the same thing it loses its energy and how many of the same thing
energy and how many of the same thing
energy and how many of the same thing can you expect to sell so something had
can you expect to sell so something had
can you expect to sell so something had to be done so that’s
to be done so that’s
to be done so that’s what one thought of evolving tradition
what one thought of evolving tradition
what one thought of evolving tradition when I talk of evolving tradition like
when I talk of evolving tradition like
when I talk of evolving tradition like Beauty said that the constant is there
Beauty said that the constant is there
Beauty said that the constant is there is you know you have to retain the
is you know you have to retain the
is you know you have to retain the essential spirit yet it has to be
essential spirit yet it has to be
essential spirit yet it has to be contemporary and appeal to a wider
contemporary and appeal to a wider
contemporary and appeal to a wider audience
audience
audience so now see what we have done to the same
so now see what we have done to the same
so now see what we have done to the same thing this is the rock and brass fusion
thing this is the rock and brass fusion
thing this is the rock and brass fusion once we started of course bigger pieces
once we started of course bigger pieces
once we started of course bigger pieces using two stones chameleon pigs flying
using two stones chameleon pigs flying
using two stones chameleon pigs flying peacock in our garden which is installed
peacock in our garden which is installed
peacock in our garden which is installed there and now this was a very big thing
there and now this was a very big thing
there and now this was a very big thing which we did last year this 12-foot
which we did last year this 12-foot
which we did last year this 12-foot statue of the winged human taking off
statue of the winged human taking off
statue of the winged human taking off from a pile of moose this was installed
from a pile of moose this was installed
from a pile of moose this was installed in Delhi University Hindu college and
in Delhi University Hindu college and
in Delhi University Hindu college and you can see the wing why I am showing
you can see the wing why I am showing
you can see the wing why I am showing you this is that this wing was made with
you this is that this wing was made with
you this is that this wing was made with about thousand feathers of Maidan wax
about thousand feathers of Maidan wax
about thousand feathers of Maidan wax and lost-wax technique of metal casting
and lost-wax technique of metal casting
and lost-wax technique of metal casting has this its inherent risks because when
has this its inherent risks because when
has this its inherent risks because when you’re pouring brass into it molten
you’re pouring brass into it molten
you’re pouring brass into it molten brass it need not reached the end so
brass it need not reached the end so
brass it need not reached the end so when it was being broken open we had our
when it was being broken open we had our
when it was being broken open we had our hearts in our hands is the brass reach
hearts in our hands is the brass reach
hearts in our hands is the brass reach the end
the end
the end luckily it had otherwise we would have
luckily it had otherwise we would have
luckily it had otherwise we would have had to do the whole process and bigger
had to do the whole process and bigger
had to do the whole process and bigger than this challenge was of course this
than this challenge was of course this
than this challenge was of course this Nandi weighing 900 kilos now when you
Nandi weighing 900 kilos now when you
Nandi weighing 900 kilos now when you scale it up casting or small thing is
scale it up casting or small thing is
scale it up casting or small thing is easy but imagine 900 kilos of hot Nandi
easy but imagine 900 kilos of hot Nandi
easy but imagine 900 kilos of hot Nandi the mold red-hot and pouring 300 kilos
the mold red-hot and pouring 300 kilos
the mold red-hot and pouring 300 kilos of molten brass into it yeah and you
of molten brass into it yeah and you
of molten brass into it yeah and you have to do it fast because it can
have to do it fast because it can
have to do it fast because it can solidify after three failures finally
solidify after three failures finally
solidify after three failures finally this is ready and this is also installed
this is ready and this is also installed
this is ready and this is also installed in Delhi University I will show you a
in Delhi University I will show you a
in Delhi University I will show you a little process video to give you an idea
little process video to give you an idea
little process video to give you an idea how from stone till the end what goes
how from stone till the end what goes
how from stone till the end what goes into it
so tradition is really like a tree the
so tradition is really like a tree the more deeper you go the more the branches
more deeper you go the more the branches
more deeper you go the more the branches spread and you get fruits now we have
spread and you get fruits now we have
spread and you get fruits now we have even started sculpting stone slightly
even started sculpting stone slightly
even started sculpting stone slightly the stone has to be very hard so it’s
the stone has to be very hard so it’s
the stone has to be very hard so it’s very difficult to sculpt basalt but now
very difficult to sculpt basalt but now
very difficult to sculpt basalt but now this is added a different dimension and
this is added a different dimension and
this is added a different dimension and you know after all this one it was Asif
you know after all this one it was Asif
you know after all this one it was Asif one had tasted blood and we began with
one had tasted blood and we began with
one had tasted blood and we began with other kinds of experimentation
other kinds of experimentation
other kinds of experimentation terracotta so terracotta and brass
terracotta so terracotta and brass
terracotta so terracotta and brass fusion I have a piece here too so this
fusion I have a piece here too so this
fusion I have a piece here too so this is on terracotta we do the wax work like
is on terracotta we do the wax work like
is on terracotta we do the wax work like this and then it is cast this flask I’d
this and then it is cast this flask I’d
this and then it is cast this flask I’d got from Rajasthan it’s got transformed
got from Rajasthan it’s got transformed
got from Rajasthan it’s got transformed into a lamp shade again broken pieces of
into a lamp shade again broken pieces of
into a lamp shade again broken pieces of pottery they get transformed into
pendants we’ve even broken pieces of
pendants we’ve even broken pieces of cutlery this was the tea mug which is no
cutlery this was the tea mug which is no
cutlery this was the tea mug which is no part of jewellery
part of jewellery
part of jewellery so this is what I want to tell you what
so this is what I want to tell you what
so this is what I want to tell you what evolving tradition it means for me now
evolving tradition it means for me now
evolving tradition it means for me now look at this this is a very simple toy I
look at this this is a very simple toy I
look at this this is a very simple toy I mean it’s made in Buster bitter not and
mean it’s made in Buster bitter not and
mean it’s made in Buster bitter not and using the principle of balancing not not
using the principle of balancing not not
using the principle of balancing not not much has changed now it does this really
much has changed now it does this really
much has changed now it does this really do the same thing what we have done here
do the same thing what we have done here
do the same thing what we have done here is actually look at this so this is what
is actually look at this so this is what
is actually look at this so this is what evolving tradition is for me
evolving tradition is for me
evolving tradition is for me [Applause]
again taking inspiration from nature
again taking inspiration from nature Bohemia branch we were almost the middle
Bohemia branch we were almost the middle
Bohemia branch we were almost the middle botanical series so now you know the
botanical series so now you know the
botanical series so now you know the traditional way of doing things is you
traditional way of doing things is you
traditional way of doing things is you have a traditional motive of a tree year
have a traditional motive of a tree year
have a traditional motive of a tree year or a bird we are actually copying actual
or a bird we are actually copying actual
or a bird we are actually copying actual birds so I have other things with real
birds so I have other things with real
birds so I have other things with real birds but of paradise with its long tail
birds but of paradise with its long tail
birds but of paradise with its long tail and monkeys on the moon bottle openers
and monkeys on the moon bottle openers
and monkeys on the moon bottle openers after this now we became more bold and
after this now we became more bold and
after this now we became more bold and I’m going to start with something else
I’m going to start with something else
I’m going to start with something else which we started doing can you see this
which we started doing can you see this
which we started doing can you see this baby monkey skull this has got to by our
baby monkey skull this has got to by our
baby monkey skull this has got to by our dog in fact and we just covered it with
dog in fact and we just covered it with
dog in fact and we just covered it with clay and casted the original skull is
clay and casted the original skull is
clay and casted the original skull is burnt out and now it is brass so this is
burnt out and now it is brass so this is
burnt out and now it is brass so this is what you know what I’m going to be
what you know what I’m going to be
what you know what I’m going to be talking about is organic casting what we
talking about is organic casting what we
talking about is organic casting what we call now
call now
call now so branches creepers turn into
so branches creepers turn into
so branches creepers turn into door-handles antlers of the stag are
door-handles antlers of the stag are
door-handles antlers of the stag are made with branches and that’s how it
made with branches and that’s how it
made with branches and that’s how it looked later meat cheese leave that this
looked later meat cheese leave that this
looked later meat cheese leave that this kind of texture no human hand can
kind of texture no human hand can
kind of texture no human hand can possibly replicate one thing I realized
possibly replicate one thing I realized
possibly replicate one thing I realized was that art is a powerful medium to
was that art is a powerful medium to
was that art is a powerful medium to commune with nature and when we have
commune with nature and when we have
commune with nature and when we have this is something which are actually the
this is something which are actually the
this is something which are actually the modern world is losing out we are all
modern world is losing out we are all
modern world is losing out we are all suffering from what they say nature
suffering from what they say nature
suffering from what they say nature deficit disorder and I found an art of
deficit disorder and I found an art of
deficit disorder and I found an art of Airy powerful medium of connecting the
Airy powerful medium of connecting the
Airy powerful medium of connecting the youth and also sensitizing them to the
youth and also sensitizing them to the
youth and also sensitizing them to the needs for conservation and so when we
needs for conservation and so when we
needs for conservation and so when we have groups of children and youth and
have groups of children and youth and
have groups of children and youth and architects and interns we first thing we
architects and interns we first thing we
architects and interns we first thing we asked them to do is observe nature and
asked them to do is observe nature and
asked them to do is observe nature and that’s where they get their ideas of
that’s where they get their ideas of
that’s where they get their ideas of desire
desire
desire all from and this is in fact made by
all from and this is in fact made by
all from and this is in fact made by those who have come for the workshop to
those who have come for the workshop to
those who have come for the workshop to learn and it’s not that you are living
learn and it’s not that you are living
learn and it’s not that you are living tradition but you are taking it to a
tradition but you are taking it to a
tradition but you are taking it to a different dimension so the fireball the
different dimension so the fireball the
different dimension so the fireball the iron man I see children their eyes
iron man I see children their eyes
iron man I see children their eyes lighting up with delight when they come
lighting up with delight when they come
lighting up with delight when they come to when they see this so we are trying
to when they see this so we are trying
to when they see this so we are trying to create become a bridge between
to create become a bridge between
to create become a bridge between metropolitan cities and these far-flung
metropolitan cities and these far-flung
metropolitan cities and these far-flung tribal areas between the indigenous and
tribal areas between the indigenous and
tribal areas between the indigenous and the modern between mohenjo-daro and
the modern between mohenjo-daro and
the modern between mohenjo-daro and Mumbai and that is what is required if
Mumbai and that is what is required if
Mumbai and that is what is required if we want to keep the tradition alive so
we want to keep the tradition alive so
we want to keep the tradition alive so to end it all it’s not just about art
to end it all it’s not just about art
to end it all it’s not just about art that I’m talking it applies to
that I’m talking it applies to
that I’m talking it applies to everything any living thing that has a
everything any living thing that has a
everything any living thing that has a past whether it is a culture a community
past whether it is a culture a community
past whether it is a culture a community a country a religion if we kind of just
a country a religion if we kind of just
a country a religion if we kind of just be limited with our tradition and past
be limited with our tradition and past
be limited with our tradition and past then there’s no growth you’re the past
then there’s no growth you’re the past
then there’s no growth you’re the past tradition is nothing but a springboard I
tradition is nothing but a springboard I
tradition is nothing but a springboard I would like to leave with this something
would like to leave with this something
would like to leave with this something that I wrote because it resonates with
that I wrote because it resonates with
that I wrote because it resonates with this the same thing what I’ve been
this the same thing what I’ve been
this the same thing what I’ve been talking about the same meaning it’s
talking about the same meaning it’s
talking about the same meaning it’s about the weight of time in the
about the weight of time in the
about the weight of time in the hourglass of a lifetime the bottom seems
hourglass of a lifetime the bottom seems
hourglass of a lifetime the bottom seems almost full yet to feel that one is
almost full yet to feel that one is
almost full yet to feel that one is varying a mask of old age that could be
varying a mask of old age that could be
varying a mask of old age that could be flung aside and become a child of five
flung aside and become a child of five
flung aside and become a child of five discovering the earth and the sky I’m
discovering the earth and the sky I’m
discovering the earth and the sky I’m heavy with experience it’s time to turn
heavy with experience it’s time to turn
heavy with experience it’s time to turn the hourglass upside down
ladies and gentlemen thank you so much
ladies and gentlemen thank you so much for taking time out and coming and
for taking time out and coming and
for taking time out and coming and listening to this story I’ll just like
listening to this story I’ll just like
listening to this story I’ll just like to leave y’all with this thought how
to leave y’all with this thought how
to leave y’all with this thought how many hourglasses of your life are you
many hourglasses of your life are you
many hourglasses of your life are you willing to turn over thank you
willing to turn over thank you
willing to turn over thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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