Altodi Poltodi / This shore That shore

A collaborative work with Savyasachi began with the story of Rakhondars, the spirit-protectors in Goa, leading us to inquire more about them. Throughout this process, we encountered the question of insider-outsider politics in Goa. The mythical Rakhondars protect the 'inside' from 'outside' exploitation, walking along the village periphery each night. This prompted us to reflect on that invisible dividing line through our own experiences and to gather stories from individuals who still embody these myths. Later, our research formed into an installation and an essay.

The work was installed at the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts, made possible by the Goa Open Arts Catalyst Grant in 2021. It featured a cluster of four islands, each with objects placed upon them, paired with their mirrored shadow worlds. Visitors were invited to navigate the installation along a circular path, metaphorically stepping into the role of the Rakhondars. They could touch, move, and recompose the objects, building or breaking structures within the islands. These transformations cast shifting shadows across the four walls of the gallery, altering the silhouette of a place.

Link to the exposition on Research Catalogue.