Gujarat and Rajasthan have been an ideal host to the impressionable historic imprints of legend, architecture, philanthropy, religion and entrepreneurship. And to say that there are many a visual and cultural reminders of the same would be appropriate . Architecturally, Ahmedabad has been a recipient of many international influences but one of its own architectural marvels has been the Step well, the vav in gujarati and the baoli in Rajasthan. Dating back to as early as 600 AD the vav had been a milestone discovery in community bonding, collaborative efforts to conserve water from source, a relief from the heat and make going down the steps of the well a social event. Many a legendary stories have evolved around the step well and have been an integral part of our lives in Gujarat. Stories of philanthropy by the Queens and Kings in our regime, or by the Nagar Sheths’ of Gujarat are influences we have grown up with.
Neekoee Foundation has been intrigued with the architecture, the efforts, and the love for humanity of these people! Being the first heritage city of India, Ahmedabad’s history is mingled in these vavs too, which are a testament of the glorious past, the cultural bonhomie and the intellectual prowess of the people from this region. Neekoee with a core focus on art and culture feels that the current state of some of our vavs in and around Ahmedabad needs attention. Whilst water conservation is also the need of the hour, to culminate the two, we aim to work with the architecture and the stories of the step well.
Every year, we aim to identify one vav and have it go through a renewal process with a restorative plan to begin with and then present to the city an amalgamation of the relaunch through an interactive medium. An art installation or a performance there. This would revive the space and its glory. The inhabitants around the well will also re instil their faith while engaging in the process of its rebirth. This would be a step towards preserving our cultural heritage, spreading the message of water and heritage conservation and awareness amongst the locals, which will make it an avenue for the public again. Reviving an out-of-function space, would attract a lot of traction, which in turn will be a boost to the tourism as the revival plan is aimed at having the local folklore weaved around them which may be presented in a theatrical medium and that too assisted by a visual artist which will be a maiden attempt in India .
A drop of AIR / A breath of WATER, is a site specific installation; by artist Vishal K Dar. As the integral part of the installation, we see a very large droplet of water, stuck inside the Ambapur Vav (stepwell) architecture. The state of suspension of this droplet is not clear nor what it signifies. The essence of a moment in-between is emitted from it. The droplet expresses a ghostly ephemeral being, distorting and mimicking the empty architecture around on its reflective skin. And in doing so, it reminds us of the presence of this vav, a water monument of the past, which still emphasizes water crisis of our present. Vikram Sridhar, storyteller enthralled young and adults at the site with his stories on water, and heritage. The aim was to bring in awareness for the conservation of water and heritage. The installation was for three days and was widely viewed by school children, and young adults form educational institutes from Ambapur as well as Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.The residents of the village also had interactions with the artists along with the visitors. RTA ऋत was in collaboration with Kiran Nadar Musem of arts(KNMA).
