Samode site specific work : Santosh More

The first impression about the Samod village ( a small village in Rajasthan-India ) in my mind was

the historical, exotic and tourist place is going to be developed.

The village has been adopted by the government or NGOs.

When I here the word “development of village”, immediately the memories of my village pops up in my mind.

“Satara”- my native was a historical place and the kingdom of the last generation of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The place had been beautified by the traditional handcrafted wood carvings, stone carvings, palaces, and tanga-baggis.

I have seen all these things in my childhood and gradually been demolished.

The exotic, historical vadas- Palaces has been transformed into multi storied shopping complexes,

a tonga-palkhis ( traditional transpot system) has been replaced to latest motor car models.

 The village which was a great kingdom has been changed to a developing city- surrounded by big industries.

When I was walking and interacting with the peoples of Samod,

I could here the ‘development’ in the villagers mind was exactly like the today’s Satara city.

As an artist or even any sensitive mind it’s quit painful.

Suddenly my mind focused on the stone streets of Samod which some villagers wanted to be in Damer or concrete.

For this particular work I chose this street, and to put divider in between.

I was inspired by the relationship between the word ‘divide’ and the function of the ‘divider’.

The divider, which divides two opposite directions- two cultures, traditions and thoughts.

Site Specific Workshop at Sangli

Site Specific Workshop has been organised by Sangli Art School and the collage

has gave me the opportunity to conduct the workshop.

There were around 300 students, teachers, professionals and common peoples

had participated in the workshop to understand the concept and to work on actual sites.

Below are the few work images done by the students during workshop.

Prince Aly Khan Hospital

Prince Aly Khan Hospital situated in Mumbai, has oncological ward for throat cancer.

The ward had a room with dirty outer walls just outside the ward and prominantly visible through the windows.

The hospital used to store oxygen cylinders in this room so they call it Oxygen Room.

The idea in my mind was to decorate this wall in such a way that

this room will trualy become a Oxygen room for the cancer patents.

These walls now makes patents and their relatives and friends happy and relaxed.

The idea to provide some oxygen to the mind of the peoples who are struggling between life and death.