चांदोबा : A Trip Into The Moon

Solo Show-Multimedia Installation, May’22 – June’22 

Medium: Moving image collage, paper maché from newspaper, canvas, iridescent vinyl, light, shadow, projection 

‘चांदोबा’, pronounced Chandoba, is an affectionate way of addressing the Moon in Marathi, mainly present in a popular children’s poem : ‘चांदोबा चांदोबा भागलास का?’  (Dear Moon, have you run away?) Read the whole poem, the supporting zine and the gallery map : चांदोबा on Issuu

The Moon reflects light, is a symbol of routine, of being grounded and somebody I can depend on eternally. During the militarisation of Minneapolis in 2020 I was still a foreigner, alone with no access to home, family, friends, bodily warmth, where the only real thing was the sound of my breath in the silence of Winter and lockdowns. In this time Chandoba would grace me with its mesmerising presence, every night, through the trees and across the sky, a grounding force during times of isolation. Tomorrow was uncertain, but Chandoba will come, even at times veiled behind the clouds, albeit its certain absence once a month. But even that, is certain.

Watch a 13 second extract of the moving image collage : चांदोबा extract on Youtube

Watch a brief video of the installation : चांदोबा on Youtube