24 Feb The long march

An illustrative collage & mural by Viraag Desai at the Uronto residential art exchange program at Dubolhati Palace in Noagaon, Bd.

‘The long march’ presents a timeline of the ecological history of the Dubolhati Area. After scouring the neighboring region of posters and other printed matter visible to the public, Viraag processed and collaged them to form a serpent. This snake/path symbolizes the inevitable progress of time and modernity in an area that has largely been the same for hundreds of years. From the mid 19th century onwards the ecology of this area has seen drastic changes in the form of socio-political shifts as well as the influence of new technologies, such as roadways and motorized vehicles. The illustrative part of this mural creates a visual narrative of these shifts, as this area progresses into a highly connected and technology centric age. The consequences of these changes can only be truly understood by the locals who experience them. This installation uses images of local flora and fauna to create a sense of understanding for their predicament.

Viraag Desai, artist and designer from India. His current art practice deals with the perceptual nature of information. Makes collage out of collected paper sign/poster scraps from walls, taking a cue from the ‘katah’ tradition of Bengal and Bangladesh.