After looking at Chennai through coloured glasses for sometime, I have come to realize that the city has a lot to offer. From lungi-clad men on two-wheelers, to women draped in colourful sari's making a kolam on their porch. Families who breakfast on idli-dosa and lunch on curd rice. The population converses in Tamil - one of the oldest languages in India, which also has rich vernacular literature. The local children are almost always trained in Kathak - a traditional dance form, or in classical form of singing. A traditional lifestyle is enjoyed by most families which are joint - or living together. They have a huge contribution to the IT industry which is growing rapidly in Chennai, along with the fields of medicine and science as well. This album documents the temples which the city is obsessively proud of. I've captured patterns, rich colors, subdued carvings, ornamental roof's and anything else that caught my eye.
BEIJING - A COLLECTION OF THE OLD AND NEW
I was invited to be a Graphic Facilitator for a project with Maersk (China) - one of the worlds largest shipping corporations. They had an event and workshop which comprised of members from most teams across South East Asia - they came coming to brainstorm on different ideas. I had to play the role of the person who can give this idea a form, identify a story around it and make the data look meaningful. Also since it was too many numbers/data a happier, brighter hand-drawn presentation was preferable. After the work was completed. We headed to Beijing! via the popular overnight sleeper trains. Beijing, means "Northern Capital". It is the sprawling, large, and most populated city of China. While walking through the streets you will note different styles of architecture. - The traditional architecture of Imperial China (Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City etc.) And then some poorly designed buildings referred to as the "Sino-Sov" style, with boxy structures. The city is also has more modern architecture in certain newly developed districts. I found Beijing to be more cultural and touristy with some old, rich architecture in bold beautiful colors like red and yellow (but with hardly any conservation being done to preserve it). A revolutionary art scene at their art district brought in themes of communism, graffiti, along with world art styles visible in art galleries and delicate products designed in clay and porcelain. It is an old city with ancient houses, hostels for travelers, malls and high streets with every possible brand. It is a city of contradictions, like most capitals across the world.