Pangshong (from the series Living impression)
'Living Impressions’ is a series of mixed media installations representing special people I have come across. My aim is to capture and preserve a brief moment in time, of the sitters lives through kinetic holographs in the form of narrative storytelling.
This installation is of Pangshongh, one of the few people remaining with facial and body ceremonial tattooes from the Konyak tribe in Nagaland. With the change in times people in this remote village bordering Burma, no longer practice this traditional art form, which once played an integral role in distinguishing oneself in a society.
A former head hunting warrior and popularly known in the area for his bravery, Pangshong still lives the life of a hunter - gatherer.
This work is an attempt to capture a few minutes of his life in the form of video audio and body cast.
Pangshong starts by singing a song, a medium which still forms the strongest bond to history in this part of the world. He reminisces his days as a warrior, a hunter, a dutiful nephew and as he grew older, a village councilor. He concludes by singing a warrior’s song describing how despite all the wars they were involved in, his village was never defeated.
Issues of cultural traditions being eroded and notions of how to preserve them in the face of constant technological and societal change is a prevalent question to communities in countries across the world. It is a wider theme that I am exploring in my works.
Video documentation of the installation:
https://vimeo.com/69885046
This installation is of Pangshongh, one of the few people remaining with facial and body ceremonial tattooes from the Konyak tribe in Nagaland. With the change in times people in this remote village bordering Burma, no longer practice this traditional art form, which once played an integral role in distinguishing oneself in a society.
A former head hunting warrior and popularly known in the area for his bravery, Pangshong still lives the life of a hunter - gatherer.
This work is an attempt to capture a few minutes of his life in the form of video audio and body cast.
Pangshong starts by singing a song, a medium which still forms the strongest bond to history in this part of the world. He reminisces his days as a warrior, a hunter, a dutiful nephew and as he grew older, a village councilor. He concludes by singing a warrior’s song describing how despite all the wars they were involved in, his village was never defeated.
Issues of cultural traditions being eroded and notions of how to preserve them in the face of constant technological and societal change is a prevalent question to communities in countries across the world. It is a wider theme that I am exploring in my works.
Video documentation of the installation:
https://vimeo.com/69885046
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