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Scavenger’s Trick<br />
I picked up things from all over India to create the quirky yet harmonious mélange,<br />
here at <strong>Ichol</strong>. We scouted for stuff in Mumbai, Delhi, Varansi and Kolkata. Sourcing<br />
was the toughest part and whenever we felt stuck, we took chai breaks to refresh<br />
ourselves and went off on our hunt again. Often, after those breaks we’d make small<br />
discoveries and have little successes. It wasn’t easy to convince Ambica di to go to<br />
Cochin but I was adamant. I just knew that I would get what I was looking for. Finally,<br />
she agreed but we found nothing for two days and were very disheartened. Then<br />
suddenly, we saw a huge metal pipe section from a ship engine, it looked so much like<br />
a lotus pod to me. We were in the car and passed-by sooner than I would have liked,<br />
so we turned back to take a closer look. That pipe-section was turned into a round<br />
table at the café.<br />
Our local driver in Cochin, Munner, was extremely helpful. He located scrap dealers<br />
and took us to several scrap yards. He even acted as our security guard. At one such<br />
yard I felt very creatively inspired as though some source was working from beyond,<br />
drawing me to these things. At other scrap yards, the dealers were like gundas (goons)<br />
and I felt responsible for Ambica di’s safety. After all, I had dragged her here. When<br />
they offered us tea, Ambica di being trusting and friendly drank it, but I was very<br />
wary and thought something may be mixed in it, so I didn’t dare drink! If something<br />
were to go wrong, at least I should be around to ensure Ambica di’s safety. In a scrap<br />
yard in Jew Town we found wooden sculptures, antique pieces and some relics of<br />
Kerala art. We also met Majnu, one of the biggest antique dealers there. He was very<br />
helpful and hospitable and helped us long after we had left Kochi. I was convinced<br />
that he was in love with Ambica di.<br />
Another transforming aspect about this project was the connect I found between<br />
art and the Beri family business. Sanjiv da has several crushing plants in his factory.<br />
I was familiar with some of this as my family manufactures crushing plants used for<br />
grinding and breaking of stones. One day we went to Sanjiv da’s abandoned lime<br />
factory in Maihar. Here I saw an old metal chimney and was fascinated by its shadows<br />
and structure. I was taken by the idea of using this to create a light installation for <strong>Art</strong><br />
<strong>Ichol</strong>. An old trolley used for transporting stones, became Ambica di’s office desk and,
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