Name: Kshetrimayum Dideshwor Singh

Guide: Prof. Raja Mohanty

Course: Visual Communication

Self-Determination and Nation-State: Understanding Conflict through Sculpture

The project aims at understanding visual culture and my own understanding to History of art and to understand how artists contribute to visual culture of a public space. The idea is to rethink about art and its role in our time and the possibility of enhancing visual culture in the form of public art. The intention is a curatorial vision for Public Art at IIT Bombay and finally come out with public sculpture for the free space of IIT Bombay.

“THE VICTIM
Stoneware 10 x 8 x18 inch (25x20x45 cm) 2016.
In Manipur there were a lot of women gun survivors who’s husbands were murdered by armed forces and a lot of women were raped by the armed forces. So, I am trying to show the victim of the conflict between Nation – State and Self-Determination. I made of a Manipuri female since Manipur is one of the main victims of this conflict with over 20,000 registered conflict widows. The facial expression is partly sad, partly smiling and some pointed rods have been forcefully inserted in her body.”

“BETWEEN A ROCK AND HARD PLACE
Stoneware 15 x 12 x 35 inch (38x30x88 cm) 2016.
Here I am trying to depict the situation of the civilian of Manipur. In Manipur due to the conflict between the Self-Determination and Nation-State causes numerous torture. People were like lying between two danger places.
Both sides are dangerous as Indian army creates problems due to the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Acts) on the other side insurgency are also worst. They collect money from civilian, make rules to obey. People can’t say anything about them. So, in my point of view both are same, as they are using guns. Whoever it is using guns and fighting is an inhuman action to me. But here I made a small change to my idea, now people were not lying in between this difficult place instead people lie below it. “

” KHUT (Hand)
Stoneware 12 x 16 x 8 inch (30x15x20) cm) 2016.
Conflict arise when someone’s hand comes in the way of someone else’s desire. The conflict can also be controlled by someone’s hand. This is the role of a hand in our society”

“Memory
Stoneware
24 x 12 inch (60x30cm)
Since my childhood I had witnessed societal unrest and conflict in Manipur. Here I am trying reposed through a series of incident that came in my mind. This 7 Relief tiles represent my past memory about the conflict.”