your reality is a matter of habit really your reality is a matter of habit your
your reality is a matter of habit your
your reality is a matter of habit your reality is you’re safe mundane
reality is you’re safe mundane
reality is you’re safe mundane serviceable everyday world seen through
serviceable everyday world seen through
serviceable everyday world seen through the lens of your eyes now close those
the lens of your eyes now close those
the lens of your eyes now close those lenses trust me close your eyes for just
lenses trust me close your eyes for just
lenses trust me close your eyes for just 10 seconds and let me offer you an
10 seconds and let me offer you an
10 seconds and let me offer you an alternative and here is what I propose
alternative and here is what I propose
alternative and here is what I propose what if through my art I offered you
what if through my art I offered you
what if through my art I offered you ways to me remake your world by offering
ways to me remake your world by offering
ways to me remake your world by offering you different lenses of perception
you different lenses of perception
you different lenses of perception visualize these lenses now open your
visualize these lenses now open your
visualize these lenses now open your eyes
eyes
eyes let me take you on a journey through an
let me take you on a journey through an
let me take you on a journey through an artwork just one artwork and I pick it
artwork just one artwork and I pick it
artwork just one artwork and I pick it because it moves through different times
because it moves through different times
because it moves through different times and spaces we will go deep within our
and spaces we will go deep within our
and spaces we will go deep within our bodies and we will fly to the moon and
bodies and we will fly to the moon and
bodies and we will fly to the moon and through this I will offer the world that
through this I will offer the world that
through this I will offer the world that you think you know in six at least six
you think you know in six at least six
you think you know in six at least six distinctly different ways the work I
distinctly different ways the work I
distinctly different ways the work I have picked is called the astrolabe it
have picked is called the astrolabe it
have picked is called the astrolabe it was part of my installation at the Kochi
was part of my installation at the Kochi
was part of my installation at the Kochi Biennale the previous one and it is
Biennale the previous one and it is
Biennale the previous one and it is composed of six panels and it is the
composed of six panels and it is the
composed of six panels and it is the work from which these details are being
work from which these details are being
work from which these details are being shown to you so how did I begin well
shown to you so how did I begin well
shown to you so how did I begin well sometimes looking back to history offers
sometimes looking back to history offers
sometimes looking back to history offers insights to a way forward so my
insights to a way forward so my
insights to a way forward so my inspiration began with a fascination for
inspiration began with a fascination for
inspiration began with a fascination for this astronomical instrument called the
this astronomical instrument called the
this astronomical instrument called the astrolabe which was used by European
astrolabe which was used by European
astrolabe which was used by European sailors to find a way to the east the
sailors to find a way to the east the
sailors to find a way to the east the history of the astrolabe is about 2,000
history of the astrolabe is about 2,000
history of the astrolabe is about 2,000 years old and you could call it a sort
years old and you could call it a sort
years old and you could call it a sort of mechanical computer used to plot
of mechanical computer used to plot
of mechanical computer used to plot problems about time and the position of
problems about time and the position of
problems about time and the position of the Sun and the planets in the sky so I
the Sun and the planets in the sky so I
the Sun and the planets in the sky so I took this astrolabe which was typically
took this astrolabe which was typically
took this astrolabe which was typically about six inches –eye and I blew it up
about six inches –eye and I blew it up
about six inches –eye and I blew it up I enlarged it to several hundreds of
I enlarged it to several hundreds of
I enlarged it to several hundreds of times
times
times sighs I intervened in it and I moved and
sighs I intervened in it and I moved and
sighs I intervened in it and I moved and changed things so that now it hovered
changed things so that now it hovered
changed things so that now it hovered between the real and the abstract or
between the real and the abstract or
between the real and the abstract or should I say the seemingly abstract
should I say the seemingly abstract
should I say the seemingly abstract because nothing in the astrolabe or the
because nothing in the astrolabe or the
because nothing in the astrolabe or the astrolabe is actually abstract it is
astrolabe is actually abstract it is
astrolabe is actually abstract it is your world your real world seen through
your world your real world seen through
your world your real world seen through different lenses macro and micro it is
different lenses macro and micro it is
different lenses macro and micro it is your world seen through the lens of
your world seen through the lens of
your world seen through the lens of giant satellites and telescopes which
giant satellites and telescopes which
giant satellites and telescopes which are scouring the universe it is your
are scouring the universe it is your
are scouring the universe it is your world seen through the lens of scanning
world seen through the lens of scanning
world seen through the lens of scanning tunneling electron microscopes that are
tunneling electron microscopes that are
tunneling electron microscopes that are looking deep within your own bodies it
looking deep within your own bodies it
looking deep within your own bodies it is the world seen deeper still through
is the world seen deeper still through
is the world seen deeper still through giant particle colliders that hurl
giant particle colliders that hurl
giant particle colliders that hurl particles at each other watch the
particles at each other watch the
particles at each other watch the collision and study the debris for
collision and study the debris for
collision and study the debris for knowledge and clues about our place in
knowledge and clues about our place in
knowledge and clues about our place in the universe because collisions produce
the universe because collisions produce
the universe because collisions produce knowledge and this is true even when
knowledge and this is true even when
knowledge and this is true even when different cultures ideas people collide
different cultures ideas people collide
different cultures ideas people collide and why does this happen it’s because we
and why does this happen it’s because we
and why does this happen it’s because we are world makers and world travelers my
are world makers and world travelers my
are world makers and world travelers my work the astrolabe draws clues from
work the astrolabe draws clues from
work the astrolabe draws clues from ancient maps and from stories of
ancient maps and from stories of
ancient maps and from stories of travelers who travel the world between
travelers who travel the world between
travelers who travel the world between the fifteenth in the seventeenth century
the fifteenth in the seventeenth century
the fifteenth in the seventeenth century which is sometimes called the Age of
which is sometimes called the Age of
which is sometimes called the Age of Discovery it was a time when geography
Discovery it was a time when geography
Discovery it was a time when geography shaped history it was a time when
shaped history it was a time when
shaped history it was a time when intrepid travelers like vasco da gama
intrepid travelers like vasco da gama
intrepid travelers like vasco da gama came to indian shows chasing dreams of
came to indian shows chasing dreams of
came to indian shows chasing dreams of great wealth and lands to exploit but
great wealth and lands to exploit but
great wealth and lands to exploit but they also brought with them new thoughts
they also brought with them new thoughts
they also brought with them new thoughts new products new skills the resultant
new products new skills the resultant
new products new skills the resultant kill you know coalition was blood-soaked
kill you know coalition was blood-soaked
kill you know coalition was blood-soaked and terrible which is evoked by this
and terrible which is evoked by this
and terrible which is evoked by this detail of mind from the astrolabe which
detail of mind from the astrolabe which
detail of mind from the astrolabe which shows a giant blood clot within our
shows a giant blood clot within our
shows a giant blood clot within our bodies it is surrounded by hooks which
bodies it is surrounded by hooks which
bodies it is surrounded by hooks which actually belong to the astrolabe but
actually belong to the astrolabe but
actually belong to the astrolabe but which suddenly looked very menacing
which suddenly looked very menacing
which suddenly looked very menacing what I’m trying to say is that these
what I’m trying to say is that these
what I’m trying to say is that these collisions not just changed both parties
collisions not just changed both parties
collisions not just changed both parties of seafarers and land dwellers but it
of seafarers and land dwellers but it
of seafarers and land dwellers but it send out ripples that change the very
send out ripples that change the very
send out ripples that change the very knowledge of the world just as the
knowledge of the world just as the
knowledge of the world just as the knowledge of my artwork changes with
knowledge of my artwork changes with
knowledge of my artwork changes with your encounter with it for example there
your encounter with it for example there
your encounter with it for example there are people who have looked at this very
are people who have looked at this very
are people who have looked at this very detail of the blood clot and seen within
detail of the blood clot and seen within
detail of the blood clot and seen within it lattices Nets fishes bringing to mind
it lattices Nets fishes bringing to mind
it lattices Nets fishes bringing to mind the great Qin Avila or the famous
the great Qin Avila or the famous
the great Qin Avila or the famous Chinese fishing nets of Kochi which in
Chinese fishing nets of Kochi which in
Chinese fishing nets of Kochi which in turn evoke encounters with other
turn evoke encounters with other
turn evoke encounters with other cultures and civilizations they have
cultures and civilizations they have
cultures and civilizations they have seen the familiar in unfamiliar things
seen the familiar in unfamiliar things
seen the familiar in unfamiliar things when you embrace the familiar in the
when you embrace the familiar in the
when you embrace the familiar in the unfamiliar or vice versa
unfamiliar or vice versa
unfamiliar or vice versa new forms of thinking are generated what
new forms of thinking are generated what
new forms of thinking are generated what do I mean by this after all you can
do I mean by this after all you can
do I mean by this after all you can argue that there are no boundaries to
argue that there are no boundaries to
argue that there are no boundaries to limit your imagination but really isn’t
limit your imagination but really isn’t
limit your imagination but really isn’t that a problem if you can imagine just
that a problem if you can imagine just
that a problem if you can imagine just about anything what do you imagine where
about anything what do you imagine where
about anything what do you imagine where do you begin my art tries to help by
do you begin my art tries to help by
do you begin my art tries to help by offering a scaffolding on which to build
offering a scaffolding on which to build
offering a scaffolding on which to build the world to make the world of your
the world to make the world of your
the world to make the world of your imagination and let it fly far and it is
imagination and let it fly far and it is
imagination and let it fly far and it is in these spaces between the real and the
in these spaces between the real and the
in these spaces between the real and the unreal that the human imagination lives
unreal that the human imagination lives
unreal that the human imagination lives can it go too far not really because
can it go too far not really because
can it go too far not really because there’s always something familiar that
there’s always something familiar that
there’s always something familiar that will draw you back in to the world of
will draw you back in to the world of
will draw you back in to the world of the imagination and the world of my
the imagination and the world of my
the imagination and the world of my artwork and I truly believe that the
artwork and I truly believe that the
artwork and I truly believe that the sign of human intelligence is not
sign of human intelligence is not
sign of human intelligence is not knowledge but imagination and I do
knowledge but imagination and I do
knowledge but imagination and I do acknowledge that Einstein said it a long
acknowledge that Einstein said it a long
acknowledge that Einstein said it a long time ago as well so the further away
time ago as well so the further away
time ago as well so the further away from my artwork your normalcy is the
from my artwork your normalcy is the
from my artwork your normalcy is the more your imagination is activated and
more your imagination is activated and
more your imagination is activated and the greater your insights
the greater your insights
the greater your insights so activate the world of your
so activate the world of your
so activate the world of your imagination and watch watch the world of
imagination and watch watch the world of
imagination and watch watch the world of your perception change take this old
your perception change take this old
your perception change take this old Portuguese coin that I have placed at
Portuguese coin that I have placed at
Portuguese coin that I have placed at the center of my artwork
the center of my artwork
the center of my artwork am I saying that money rules the world
am I saying that money rules the world
am I saying that money rules the world not at all it is after all a very tiny
not at all it is after all a very tiny
not at all it is after all a very tiny coin in a very large artwork so while I
coin in a very large artwork so while I
coin in a very large artwork so while I acknowledge its driving power in the
acknowledge its driving power in the
acknowledge its driving power in the world
world
world I undercut its power by making it very
I undercut its power by making it very
I undercut its power by making it very tiny indeed power now that’s a loaded
tiny indeed power now that’s a loaded
tiny indeed power now that’s a loaded word I believe there is real power in
word I believe there is real power in
word I believe there is real power in simplicity and a deep link between
simplicity and a deep link between
simplicity and a deep link between powerful simplicity and thoughtful
powerful simplicity and thoughtful
powerful simplicity and thoughtful complexity I believe a large part of the
complexity I believe a large part of the
complexity I believe a large part of the power of my artworks derives from the
power of my artworks derives from the
power of my artworks derives from the fact that it is drawn entirely with a
fact that it is drawn entirely with a
fact that it is drawn entirely with a simple pencil and in this context I have
simple pencil and in this context I have
simple pencil and in this context I have a lovely story to narrate a bright young
a lovely story to narrate a bright young
a lovely story to narrate a bright young girl from Kerala called me out of the
girl from Kerala called me out of the
girl from Kerala called me out of the blue and said she was doing her tenth
blue and said she was doing her tenth
blue and said she was doing her tenth standard thesis on my artwork which she
standard thesis on my artwork which she
standard thesis on my artwork which she had seen at the Kochi Biennale she said
had seen at the Kochi Biennale she said
had seen at the Kochi Biennale she said how the artwork was a favorite with all
how the artwork was a favorite with all
how the artwork was a favorite with all her friends which is proven by the fact
her friends which is proven by the fact
her friends which is proven by the fact that the greatest number of selfies were
that the greatest number of selfies were
that the greatest number of selfies were taken in front of it I was of course
taken in front of it I was of course
taken in front of it I was of course deeply flattered this is the kind of
deeply flattered this is the kind of
deeply flattered this is the kind of feedback we artists like to get but I
feedback we artists like to get but I
feedback we artists like to get but I was also intrigued so when she came to
was also intrigued so when she came to
was also intrigued so when she came to interview me I asked her what was it
interview me I asked her what was it
interview me I asked her what was it about my artwork that had captured their
about my artwork that had captured their
about my artwork that had captured their collective consciousness and her answer
collective consciousness and her answer
collective consciousness and her answer was a revelation for me she said it was
was a revelation for me she said it was
was a revelation for me she said it was because the entire art work was done
because the entire art work was done
because the entire art work was done with a pencil that had captured hers and
with a pencil that had captured hers and
with a pencil that had captured hers and her classmates imagination because all
her classmates imagination because all
her classmates imagination because all of them had held the pencil the humble
of them had held the pencil the humble
of them had held the pencil the humble tool of a pencil at some point of time
tool of a pencil at some point of time
tool of a pencil at some point of time in their lives whether it was to learn
in their lives whether it was to learn
in their lives whether it was to learn to write or draw a doodle or scribble
to write or draw a doodle or scribble
to write or draw a doodle or scribble however they also felt that I had pushed
however they also felt that I had pushed
however they also felt that I had pushed what a pencil can do to a point that was
what a pencil can do to a point that was
what a pencil can do to a point that was way beyond what they had imagined and in
way beyond what they had imagined and in
way beyond what they had imagined and in this way I captured their imagination my
this way I captured their imagination my
this way I captured their imagination my work constantly plays with the real and
work constantly plays with the real and
work constantly plays with the real and the abstract between the simple and the
the abstract between the simple and the
the abstract between the simple and the complex and embedded in this complex
complex and embedded in this complex
complex and embedded in this complex journey of the astrolabe is a very
journey of the astrolabe is a very
journey of the astrolabe is a very simple
simple
simple that I took to Kochi where I walked its
that I took to Kochi where I walked its
that I took to Kochi where I walked its streets and found a street named after
streets and found a street named after
streets and found a street named after the family to which I belong where I
the family to which I belong where I
the family to which I belong where I listen to travelers tales about
listen to travelers tales about
listen to travelers tales about seafarers who came on the sea waters and
seafarers who came on the sea waters and
seafarers who came on the sea waters and landed on the sea shows you see this was
landed on the sea shows you see this was
landed on the sea shows you see this was a very necessary if we are to make words
a very necessary if we are to make words
a very necessary if we are to make words we have to locate ourselves both
we have to locate ourselves both
we have to locate ourselves both philosophically and physically so let us
philosophically and physically so let us
philosophically and physically so let us pause for a moment to locate where we
pause for a moment to locate where we
pause for a moment to locate where we are right now in this place in this time
are right now in this place in this time
are right now in this place in this time let me draw your attention to a very
let me draw your attention to a very
let me draw your attention to a very faint sound that started a little while
faint sound that started a little while
faint sound that started a little while ago
ago
ago it is the soundtrack that was played at
it is the soundtrack that was played at
it is the soundtrack that was played at the fluidity of horizons which is where
the fluidity of horizons which is where
the fluidity of horizons which is where my artwork the astrolabe was shown
my artwork the astrolabe was shown
my artwork the astrolabe was shown visitors to the installation if they
visitors to the installation if they
visitors to the installation if they spent time and paid attention listened
spent time and paid attention listened
spent time and paid attention listened to this they heard the same sound track
to this they heard the same sound track
to this they heard the same sound track of the lapping of waters the swish of
of the lapping of waters the swish of
of the lapping of waters the swish of the waves
the waves
the waves perhaps the tinkle of money later
perhaps the tinkle of money later
perhaps the tinkle of money later perhaps the buzz of traders voices all
perhaps the buzz of traders voices all
perhaps the buzz of traders voices all of which located them back in the world
of which located them back in the world
of which located them back in the world of the art world and we can pause a
of the art world and we can pause a
of the art world and we can pause a small moment to listen to the sound but
small moment to listen to the sound but
small moment to listen to the sound but let me now start flipping the lenses a
let me now start flipping the lenses a
let me now start flipping the lenses a little more and locate ourselves in a
little more and locate ourselves in a
little more and locate ourselves in a different way right now so right now
different way right now so right now
different way right now so right now here you are listening to me speak but
here you are listening to me speak but
here you are listening to me speak but right now at the very same time deep
right now at the very same time deep
right now at the very same time deep within your body’s cells are dividing
within your body’s cells are dividing
within your body’s cells are dividing and multiplying deeper still is the
and multiplying deeper still is the
and multiplying deeper still is the quantum buzz particles forming and
quantum buzz particles forming and
quantum buzz particles forming and disappearing outside we’re all on a
disappearing outside we’re all on a
disappearing outside we’re all on a planet that is spinning dizzily and
planet that is spinning dizzily and
planet that is spinning dizzily and hurtling through space at dizzying
hurtling through space at dizzying
hurtling through space at dizzying speeds and we’re not aware of any of
speeds and we’re not aware of any of
speeds and we’re not aware of any of this unless we change our lenses and
this unless we change our lenses and
this unless we change our lenses and change our focus which brings me to the
change our focus which brings me to the
change our focus which brings me to the very last panel of my artwork the
very last panel of my artwork the
very last panel of my artwork the astrolabe where we are now explorers on
astrolabe where we are now explorers on
astrolabe where we are now explorers on the moon we are watching our beautiful
the moon we are watching our beautiful
the moon we are watching our beautiful planet the earth rise from the position
planet the earth rise from the position
planet the earth rise from the position of being on the surface of the Moon so
of being on the surface of the Moon so
of being on the surface of the Moon so consider consider where we’ve come we
consider consider where we’ve come we
consider consider where we’ve come we started with a tiny instrument six
started with a tiny instrument six
started with a tiny instrument six inches high when we will land based
inches high when we will land based
inches high when we will land based looking up at the stars in the moon in
looking up at the stars in the moon in
looking up at the stars in the moon in the sky and now here we are on the
the sky and now here we are on the
the sky and now here we are on the surface of the Moon appending
surface of the Moon appending
surface of the Moon appending perspectives thinking about our role in
perspectives thinking about our role in
perspectives thinking about our role in space are placing the moon the Stars the
space are placing the moon the Stars the
space are placing the moon the Stars the world beyond you see how you have
world beyond you see how you have
world beyond you see how you have traveled you see how you have traveled
traveled you see how you have traveled
traveled you see how you have traveled with me to experience and enjoy an
with me to experience and enjoy an
with me to experience and enjoy an encounter the astrolabe and flipped your
encounter the astrolabe and flipped your
encounter the astrolabe and flipped your lenses of perception
lenses of perception
lenses of perception so that here finally the world stands
so that here finally the world stands
so that here finally the world stands revealed the world of my astrolabe and
revealed the world of my astrolabe and
revealed the world of my astrolabe and the world of your imagination
the world of your imagination
the world of your imagination thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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