Objects In The Mirror...
Abstract
An installation that would present the viewer with a bombardment of images and explain to them the ambiguity that gives rise to untutored ideas based on few facts. I used truck as the primary visual element in this to illustrate this thought. The aspect was to focus on the disconnect between the communities of truck drivers as well as other labor class professionals and the people who are prejudiced against them because of lack of knowledge.
A video showcasing the truck drivers' life on road is part of the installation representing the truth behind the facade of rumors and impressions. We, as humans, mould reality and a great deal of misinformation spreads and grows out of it. This project was about the divide between two sects of society.
Background
This project is about the lives of truck drivers. I chose truck drivers because they play an extremely important role in running the nation and the economy. However, there are many prejudices against them. I went on several trips to understand and experience, as far as possible, their lives and difficulties. I learnt their problems, their joys and their views on things. Realising the misunderstanding that most people harbor I decided to create a visual experience communicating some of my insights.
I realised that such a presentation would be too distant from the audience to create the impact I was aiming for. What I really wanted was the audience to feel the distortion and disambiguation of a notion that gives birth to this great misunderstanding between these two sects of society. I used truck as the primary visual element to illustrate this thought. Thus the final project turned out to be an experience design installation.
On the road to discovery
Project Duration
60+ days
Travel
5,000 km
Photographs
1,000+
Video Recorded
300+ hrs
Interviews / interactions
200+
Field Trips
Mumbai
Vadodara
New Delhi
Amritsar
Mumbai
New Delhi
Amritsar
Outcome - Experience Design
I wanted to use “the truck” as the primary element. After my study and research into the subject matter and exploring the various issues faced by contemporary truck drivers, as well as a first hand interaction with several of them I decided to make the work more about the experience than about the object. The truck thus became a medium.
The aspect to focus on now was the disconnect between the communities of truck drivers and other labour class professionals and the people who are prejudiced against them because of lack of knowledge. The work was now to become less about “The truck” and more about confusion and misunderstanding of manipulative information, still using truck as a primary element.
Preparation
Dimension of Space for installation
Digital Wire frame of installation
Digital render of plan