Investigating FAITH as a potential tool for ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

First phase of project USN has taken a start with studying the element of faith which we humans retain as a trait with all its merits and demerits and in its many forms? Faith is an essential element of the philosophy of religion but exists independent of it as well. Religion essentially gives guidelines and examples on how to spend ones life course? Faith is also one of the element which an artist too retains for no known reason to me; as USN project is not only conceived by but advanced to the stage of exploration, all through it was not possible not without some FAITH.

But each prayer is adding another plastic to the River

Its not at all surprising but in fact quite a common sight to find water bowls and other measures adopted by people to keep water filled bowls and pots not just for birds but for animals including humans. It has always been considered a good deed in this part of the world. For many offering water is best form of help a man can possibly do. It is also commonest of the the sayings in this country that one should not refuse water to anyone when asked. Is it still valid? It would be sad for me to discover any exceptions from the above case during this project or even otherwise. Have a look at one of pigeon occupied place at one of expensive south Delhi locality with support of humanity.



India is a multi-culture country with many languages, diverse ecosystems and hence differing food habits, likes and dislikes and so to be able to address all is huge task but If taken into account the Indianess? and then planning an approach to it accordingly may work? Well ! One of the component of Indianess is to keep water for birds and offer food to few lucky animals mainly for the demand out of individual faith which is usually attached to one or another religion.

Abstract
This Project involves an installation structure (art object) meant to attract birds and to realise meaning of the word ‘FORGIVE’ kept under observation. Its an effort to put together interdisciplinary interaction between meanings of an art work with occurring changes in combination and associations within its elemental composites and henceforth releasing kinds of energies in the surrounding space affecting both the ambiance and thus sense of the space.

The dichotomy of the individual experiential truth and popularly told meaning of any word within parallel existing other systems of reality in terms of fact & information often generate a void within. This work hopes to identify Faith and Forgiveness, inherent power of will and science of religion, their presence and relevance in current times and capacity of these 'words' to mobilize mankind to act in ways such as generating answers for otherwise deteriorating ecology. I am looking for any possibilities of utilizing existing practices and to upgrade the philosophy of religion, through analyzing recent advancement in technology, science and further to ongoing expansion in already huge but expanding archive of knowledge and information.

This artistic intervention helps in generating psychological clinging in the viewer for pure understanding of the meaning of the said word FORGIVE where the environment for reading and to contemplate is made suitable through introducing free floating birds in an altered ambiance from the usual and eventually adding layers of images; symbols; interpretations and unpredictability to the whole scene.

Created here this ‘Art object' create opportunities to initiate a conversation amongst the regular visitors to site, popularizing ecological concern beginning from sensitizing and reviving the age old Indian believe in respecting all forms of life around us.

This bird attracting art object provides altered results under different conditions of weather and habitation. Results also vary with change in purpose, intention or the contextual cause of its conception. All those Birds who likes living around human habitations, prefers so in order of raised food possibility through availability of right plants, flowers and Ecosystem

The project is divided into two Parts in terms of nature of work

1) Private architectures

2) Public Spaces

Establishing fresh sites

Ordinary feeding of birds seen in the city's already established sites are restricted to birds like pigeons and crows nobody cares to throw seeds for sparrows.Those who follow this practice of feeding, do so often for religious purposes. The house sparrow is an important bio-indicator & its decline is a grim reminder of degradation of urban environment and the coming danger from it to the human welfare in the long run. Rapid urbanization and dwindling nesting space has led to sharp decline in their numbers. Four years ago, the dominant species of birds here in Delhi were the house sparrow, crow, rock pigeon & common myna. Sparrows; and pigeons were on competition for nesting space and the smaller bird is obviously beaten.

Open spaces are being concreted, hundreds of mobile phone communication towers all of this has hugely affected the bird habitation not only to the sparrows, but to all other birds like the tailor bird, myna, sun bird, as well as the squirrel - and human beings too. Another addition to this list is catapults, it’s a lethal weapon which can shoot at a speed of 40 feet per second, fatal even for humans and is sold daily, which are used by children and youth to target birds. Well, it’s important to talk of this or else the gathering of good number of birds at one place is what such goon look out for but not to worry we have got an answer to this 'the powerful word forgive' and in case of this project they wont read it they will be watching it explaining itself to them.

Words are tool for communication, a medium for language to communicate its message. I could relate the functionality of words with fat molecules who acts as transporter of oxygen in the body but are not composed of it similar to this words act as mere transporter of meaning, where meaning it carries on it is not in isolation from other conditions present at given time and space.

Delhi has an amazing bird variety, but their numbers are decreasing considerably owing to pollution and urbanization. Heatstroke is another factor that claims many lives. According to veterinary doctors, over 300 birds are treated every day in Delhi for sunstroke during summers. The consumption of contaminated food sprayed with insecticides proves fatal for several species of birds here.

There is a need to have a bird habitat conservation drive by providing water & food regularly to birds, switching back to organic gardening and putting up nesting boxes. Pieces of wood, twigs, string, yarn, lint and other materials can be used to build nests & teaching the same to others interested in helping birds.

Hence, the idea is to install 'this FORGIVE structure' within public domains to establish it as an accepted site for bird harvesting. Project takes up a start with traveling with this installation piece from one location to another already established site for bird feeding around the city. Other than this, a locations will be identified for establishing a fresh-site, an observatory for bird watching. Through notions of charity and sharing following a strict discipline of providing food & water to birds etc. the viewer is expected to participate by filling the sculpture with food or water or shall just enjoy the sight of it and many transformations it will undergo.

Two of the sculptures under construction. The first
phase of this project rely on these two a great deal

Two of such sculptures incorporating food grains and water has been made to attract birds and people. Assigning this structure as an accepted site for feeding and harvesting birds etc. shall help in building up curiosity in vastness of nature and shall generate an attraction towards the sheer beauty and wow to the power of nature. 

   

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