Haunting the ghosts back.

In the process of making an enormous dream catcher for the college art exhibition at 3 am. 

Dusshera Weekend

I had my Building Construction exam this Saturday and the whole week my stomach was giving off this weird squirming sensation and I felt like I was standing on pins and needles the whole time. I would be going through the study notes at basically all times of the day and talk of nothing else except about the exam. So on Saturday when the teacher handed me the question paper, a big smiled spread across my face; thankfully the paper was easy. That evening, (for a much needed break for both of us), my uncle and I attended the flower exhibition taking place near the palace.

The exhibition was quite filled; with flowers, stalls, people and loads of food. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from a flower show; a display of different flowers? But why? You can see flowers anywhere. Why specifically come to an exhibition to see something that we see everywhere?
Then, I found the reason why.

Plants were lined up on both sides of the paths going through the ground, and at intervals, there was a display of an ice cream, musical instruments and a chariot made out of flowers,

look at the detailing,

and these flowers are changed every three to four days!
It wasn't about just displaying flowers but more about what artistically more can be done with them. Some plants were displayed in car tyres,

while some were arranged according to the colour gradient.

Vegetables were also used to make sculptures, like this magnificent peacock here,

and as a tribute, a sculpture of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam made with semiyan* was exhibited.

The next afternoon, we headed off to the painting exhibition (or Chitra Santhe in Kannada) near Shivrampet. A section of the road was blocked off and wooden frames were constructed on either sides of the roads for the artists to display and sell their works. 

Oh, it was a lovely! It was quiet, peaceful,and not too hot. There was a perfect blend of sunlight and shade, which felt like you were viewing these works in your private space, but at the same time, it gave you a feeling of openness.

There were mostly paintings displayed, all made out of different mediums, most on canvases, 

some framed,

while, some hanged loosely.

Some artists were sketching portraits of the people as well, and around them a small crowd would assemble, watching them in awe, as they watch the lines and shades come alive to form a face. Here are two boys, who were most probably bored and decided to sketch each other to pass time!

Selfie level:Artist

It was definitely refreshing and delightful to do something out of the ordinary after a long time! Whoever is in Mysore during Dusshera, make sure to visit all the events that pop up during the month!

Wishing everyone a Happy Dusshera and Happy Holidays!

*semiyan = click here

Muted Tones

Ganesha, glittering quietly in the rain.

Sleep is for the week

I excepted that running a blog would be quite easy, and if not easy, then quite manageable. I viewed it as an activity that could find its way or squeeze in between my already packed schedule. I could take out time to edit photos, I could take out time to select the ones that have to be uploaded and I could take out time to write a post about them. It seemed all right in my head. But then again, life is waiting on the other side of the court with a racket, ready to smash your head whenever you feel everything is going to be fine.

This past month has been a whirlwind of just work, work and more work. The days just consisted of tests and submissions making each day seem like an hour, and each week like a day. Among all this monotonous routine, I slept less. Very less. (I referred to myself as a walking talking zombie). Sleep became like this unobtainable treasure, hiding in a tall tower with a fire breathing dragon guarding it. It was the only thing worth looking forward to everyday and somehow it seemed fitting that I write a post on it.

I pictured myself snuggling in with three layers of thick blankets, sleeping peacefully against the sounds of the rains lashing out onto the windows. But in reality, I would walk around my house asking each of my roommates, who among them is going to pull an all nighter, and give me some company for the night. Then the work starts, and some music that works as a background noise. The pencils and setsquares get to work, with my fingers marking each point with accuracy and drawing out each line with the proper intensity. Half way through the night I can hear my bed whispering to me, slowly and softly in my ear, like a lover, asking me to leave everything that I am doing and come back to it. I consider it for half a minute, but then imagine the pile of work left to finish and decide against it. And then its back to work again.

Architecture may consist of a lot of sleepless nights, but bragging about it is more common than not sleeping itself. You boast about it to your friends while drinking your third cup of tea in that hour, you boast about it to your teachers and parents to translate it into a sign of hard work and earnestness. It becomes a competition; who can go the longest without sleeping or who went to bed last the previous night. 

For me though being able to sleep or rest is a sign of being on track. Everything is in order and the way its supposed to be. So I write this post after a night of partying and a twelve hour long sleep, to cast away sleep from this blog, and more into my hectic life.