Currently feeling a bit disgruntled and pointless. Have been working throughout the weekend for the exhibition. But why? Just for the sake of exhibition? Or is there something more?
Same with the blog and storyboard. The things written were very brief. The way people work for the storyboard is so different and incomparable. Using the same format seems meaningless now, isn't it?
Well I don't want to whine here like a baby. Just a bit fed up with the work and perhaps a bit frustrated due to the torture of a light diarrhoea and sore throat. It is strange that I only get the diarrhoea when I came back to the Netherlands. My friend said it is because of my decline in immunal defence and my decrease in will power and stamina to fight against any germs and bacteria.
Please let me stay healthy until the presentation. Ah, perhaps over the weekend because I still want to go to AW's Indian Reunion Party.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Give and Take
There is a Chinese saying that being able to give is more blessed than taking. “施比受更有福”
How willing and readily are we to “give” in Dharavi, in Mumbai? For me, I feel that I am taking too much from the neighbourhood. All these help, all these nice people, all these friendly faces. By intruding into their community, walking through, asking questions, we are doing nothing but quenching information from the locals. Sometimes I feel like I owe them something and I wanted to give something back. I don’t want to play Robin Hood or anything. The people in Dharavi are satisfied and contented with what they have.
In terms of happiness, who are the “have-s” and who are the “have not-s”?
Now I really sound like a social worker……
How willing and readily are we to “give” in Dharavi, in Mumbai? For me, I feel that I am taking too much from the neighbourhood. All these help, all these nice people, all these friendly faces. By intruding into their community, walking through, asking questions, we are doing nothing but quenching information from the locals. Sometimes I feel like I owe them something and I wanted to give something back. I don’t want to play Robin Hood or anything. The people in Dharavi are satisfied and contented with what they have.
In terms of happiness, who are the “have-s” and who are the “have not-s”?
Now I really sound like a social worker……
50 Happy Angels
Me and My Home in Dharavi
A low-tech multi-media creative artwork competition
40 out of 50 responded, all made with a lot of effort.
Genuineness and authenticity is the most precious, also their uncorrupted minds.
I am simply touched by all these sincere smiley faces. They are all angels.
A low-tech multi-media creative artwork competition
40 out of 50 responded, all made with a lot of effort.
Genuineness and authenticity is the most precious, also their uncorrupted minds.
I am simply touched by all these sincere smiley faces. They are all angels.
Unity in Complexity-- Social Nagar
“SOCIAL” suggest PROGRESSION. These people are also achievers, even though they are always happy and contented because of what they have.
It is amazing that so many different things can coexist in such a small community. Religion, industrial, place of origin.
It is also interesting to note the complexity of the subdivided Social Nagar, and of course to see the structure and social organization from within.
“We are all one.” Waqar Khan’s campaign in promoting unity among different religion.
Interviewing people and walking through the spaces, making checklists: economy, checked; demography, checked; history, checked; social structure, checked.
Alright. Now we have this abundant information.
Although we are collecting information from locals, a very bottom-up approach, I still feel that I have a very top-down perspective.
“Surveying is also an important part of cartography.” I keep reminding myself whenever I feel doubtful of what I am actually trying to do.
It is amazing that so many different things can coexist in such a small community. Religion, industrial, place of origin.
It is also interesting to note the complexity of the subdivided Social Nagar, and of course to see the structure and social organization from within.
“We are all one.” Waqar Khan’s campaign in promoting unity among different religion.
Interviewing people and walking through the spaces, making checklists: economy, checked; demography, checked; history, checked; social structure, checked.
Alright. Now we have this abundant information.
Although we are collecting information from locals, a very bottom-up approach, I still feel that I have a very top-down perspective.
“Surveying is also an important part of cartography.” I keep reminding myself whenever I feel doubtful of what I am actually trying to do.
In and Out
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In and out. In and out. In and out. In and out……..
The amazingly different microclimate inside and outside of the slum can really stimulate our senses. It is strange that we actually enjoy staying inside those small alleys that creeps among the massive slum area. They are cooler, better shaded and have more stories to tell
Crossing the slums is just like walking inside a big labyrinth. It is amazing how people can remember all these narrow routes and pathways. It is hard to keep myself oriented.
These crowds of people that are following us!! Are we studying them or are we being studied?
The amazingly different microclimate inside and outside of the slum can really stimulate our senses. It is strange that we actually enjoy staying inside those small alleys that creeps among the massive slum area. They are cooler, better shaded and have more stories to tell
Crossing the slums is just like walking inside a big labyrinth. It is amazing how people can remember all these narrow routes and pathways. It is hard to keep myself oriented.
These crowds of people that are following us!! Are we studying them or are we being studied?
5 lives a day and sensory mapping
The boundary—a dead man, half of a dead dog and several dead rats. To lose your life in Dharavi is too easy. However, I am surprised at the indifference of people on the train when the accident happened. Are they really that insensitive? Are they really used to these sudden deaths on train tracks or are they overwhelmed by seeing 3 foreigners walking on train tracks? It’s just too shocking. The 'how are you'-s and whistles from the people on the train just heightened my annoyance. Their foolish grins (sorry for being too personal, but I really don't understand why they can react in such a way) just make me mad.
___________________________________
I suddenly remembered the “non-trespassable boundaries” in our case study of the Caracas. In Dharavi, these boundaries exist outside the slum rather then in the inside. At least this is my impression after walking through the slum in so many days.
___________________________________
Sight.
Sound.
Smell.
Vibe.
It is really hard just to focus on one of these senses, because the situation in Mumbai is so chaotic. Everything is just too much. The sensations are saturated.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Cartography
car·tog·ra·phy/kɑrˈtɒgrəfi/–noun
the production of maps, including construction of projections, design, compilation, drafting, and reproduction.
A new word to me. It is ironic that we are doing this mapping exercise while I don't evenknow the proper terminologies for it.
ANTONIO SCARPONI...Does it ring any bell?
http://www.conceptualdevices.com/ENG/index.html
It is interesting to see the way he represent all these facts. I like his workshop and feel that it is kind of a pity that it's so short.
And of course, our own intervention is not to be missed.
Finally, a proper solution to deal with all the excessive bikes and pigeons
the production of maps, including construction of projections, design, compilation, drafting, and reproduction.
A new word to me. It is ironic that we are doing this mapping exercise while I don't evenknow the proper terminologies for it.
ANTONIO SCARPONI...Does it ring any bell?
http://www.conceptualdevices.com/ENG/index.html
It is interesting to see the way he represent all these facts. I like his workshop and feel that it is kind of a pity that it's so short.
And of course, our own intervention is not to be missed.
Finally, a proper solution to deal with all the excessive bikes and pigeons
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Recollecting memories
Currently trying to recall what we have been doing in Mumbai for the past 3 weeks by reading the notes that I have jot down.
From the lecture by Kalpana Sharma (author of Rediscovering Dharavi)
"They (the inhabitants of Dharavi) don't identify themselves as coming from Dharavi but smaller regions like the Koliwada or 13 Compound Area. It is the outsiders which refer to them as coming from Dharavi"
This is probably very true.
The social communities inside Dharavi are very characterized and have very strong bondings within their own communities, i.e. a strong sense of identity. Even though for us, it is not easy to distinguish these somehow 'invisible borders', the inhabitants themselves are very clear about them. It would be interesting to see how neighbouring communities interact with each other. (Since during the last part of our research, every group only concentrate in their own 'nagars' but somehow forgot about the interactions and relationships between/ amonf different nagars.)
From the lecture by Kalpana Sharma (author of Rediscovering Dharavi)
"They (the inhabitants of Dharavi) don't identify themselves as coming from Dharavi but smaller regions like the Koliwada or 13 Compound Area. It is the outsiders which refer to them as coming from Dharavi"
This is probably very true.
The social communities inside Dharavi are very characterized and have very strong bondings within their own communities, i.e. a strong sense of identity. Even though for us, it is not easy to distinguish these somehow 'invisible borders', the inhabitants themselves are very clear about them. It would be interesting to see how neighbouring communities interact with each other. (Since during the last part of our research, every group only concentrate in their own 'nagars' but somehow forgot about the interactions and relationships between/ amonf different nagars.)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Biomapping
Biomapping workshop
The sensation of a blind-folded Arie-Wilem, walking through Delft city centre to Ikea
Production by Arie, Jasper and me
From India, With Love
I'm back.
It's hard to write something that could summarize my experience for the past 3 weeks, for I had such a big change in perspective, emotion, sensation and outlook after this journey. But there is one thing that hasn't change from beginning till the end-- Mumbai is truly a great place. Great food, great movies, great music and great people. Now I am sounding a bit touristic, am I not?
However, it's indeed the nice people that I've met in this trip which made the whole experience particularly fruitful and special. From the friends we worked together with in J.J. School, to just any little kid on the street that shook my hand, ask what my name is and requested for a photo. I'm touched by all these friendly and smiley faces, and also ,of course, by their genuine personalities.
Even though sometimes I feel doubtful about my role as an architectural student in this project, I definitely have gained some insight and became (somehow, I hope) a better person. My parents said I will definitely encounter to something shocking in the trip that will have some impact on me. I guess there are too much of these impacts in the trip. The accident at the train tracks, the chaotic traffics, the ethicity of Indian culture, walking in Dharavi.............
Shall update again later.
It's hard to write something that could summarize my experience for the past 3 weeks, for I had such a big change in perspective, emotion, sensation and outlook after this journey. But there is one thing that hasn't change from beginning till the end-- Mumbai is truly a great place. Great food, great movies, great music and great people. Now I am sounding a bit touristic, am I not?
However, it's indeed the nice people that I've met in this trip which made the whole experience particularly fruitful and special. From the friends we worked together with in J.J. School, to just any little kid on the street that shook my hand, ask what my name is and requested for a photo. I'm touched by all these friendly and smiley faces, and also ,of course, by their genuine personalities.
Even though sometimes I feel doubtful about my role as an architectural student in this project, I definitely have gained some insight and became (somehow, I hope) a better person. My parents said I will definitely encounter to something shocking in the trip that will have some impact on me. I guess there are too much of these impacts in the trip. The accident at the train tracks, the chaotic traffics, the ethicity of Indian culture, walking in Dharavi.............
Shall update again later.
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