Aditi Aggarwal

 

NOTES: 

 

 

As a part of the residency**, I created a series of drawings, documenting the kitchens and favourite eatables of the artists from Neb Sarai[1]. I aimed at juxtaposing these drawings with images of figures, landscapes, architecture, people and conversations with local people around, my experience and other impressions of the elements/objects existing at the Neb Sarai. The work also had suggestions of a travelogue in the making. 

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With Neb Sarai having Jaats[2] as the most influential group in small original places, with most farmers becoming realtors, the village becoming home to many students and artists both Indian & foreign, multi-storied buildings providing income to rental villagers and affordable accommodation to young artists, art studios & centres adding sparkle to the village and IGNOU[3] being a walking distance away, the work is an initiative to bring together (through this work) these artists and common stories of their lives while documenting visuals from their kitchens  and eating habits through the medium of drawings

 

I aimed at spending the duration of the residency just walking through the streets of the village interacting and documenting these artists and their eating habits.

 

Along with the villagers, there are artists (young emerging, studios and also noted artists) living in the area from major art colleges in India like M.S.U. Baroda, College Of Art New Delhi, S.N. School Hyderabad, Govt. College of Arts and Crafts Chandigarh amongst many others and even foreigners.

According to a newspaper clipping[4] “the pursuit of art and “struggle” go hand in hand, but for broke artists living on a dream to make it big, Neb Sarai village in south Delhi along with Maidan Garhi offers an affordable roof and unlimited canvas space… While the villagers of Neb Sarai don’t understand all of the ideas behind the art, they are appreciative enough to let their own children assist and learn from tomorrow’s masters… Without the artists, Neb Sarai is mere haphazard growth- unauthorized and lacking basic amenities for its mushrooming population… Many young and emerging artists who arrive in Delhi choose to stay at Neb Sarai because of affordable accommodation and being close to the mainstream market like the very popular Lado Sarai and Saket / Khirkee (Khoj) and also close to universities like IGNOU”.

 

Another article in a popular art blog by an eminent art writer/ critic Johny ML[5] says “The artists have taken the space for a nominal rent a few months back and since then they have been living there converting a corner of the parking lot into a temporary kitchen. During day time they do their work and at night they sleep there. With the affordable space near to the other posh South Delhi colonies the artists can make their money by doing some commission works or taking up regular jobs.”

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“Food Unites…. In this world, there is no greater medium than food to unite people of conflicting natures. Whether the difference is philosophical, political or even dietary, just about everyone will put aside differences to come together and eat. Such is the power of the tongue! It is on this understanding that the Vedic culture of hospitality is based. Food in its most pure form is the best conduit to express respect and love to every living being.” [6]

 

The idea was to overlap and document the contradictions existing as seen through my eyes. for an artist, the idea of living a daily life pretty much overlaps with the profession. The physical area of practice ( of art ) may extend to any area of the house/ studio including the kitchen.

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For example, what is a stone grinder doing in a kitchen? a cover of a popular whiskey brand being used as a brush holder, cups of chai being kept at the same area of fibre casting sculpture amongst many more.