Friday, 3 July 2020

14 fashion and design projects by Vilnius Academy of Arts students

A toy for hospitalised children and an experimental clothing collection are among the varied student projects in this VDF school show, curated by the Design Innovation Centre of Vilnius Academy of Arts.

A total of 14 students are featured in the exhibition, chosen by the Lithuanian university's Design Innovation Centre from the participants of this year's Young Designer Prize – its annual competition that was established to aid the professional development of young designers.

The projects span fashion design to products and were all completed by pupils enrolled at the Vilnius Academy of Arts on its BA courses in Product Design, Communication Design, Fashion Design or the MA Design Research and Theory programme.


Design Innovation Centre of Vilnius Academy of Arts

School: Design Innovation Centre of Vilnius Academy of Arts
Courses: BA Product Design, BA Communication Design, BA Fashion Design and MA Design Research and Theory
Tutors: Aušra Lisauskienė, Robertas Jucaitis, Šarūnas Šlektavičius, Rūta Mickienė, Dovilė Gudačiauskaitė, Vytautas Kibildis, Miglė Kibildienė, Rasa Janulevičiūtė, Dainius Bendikas, Audrius Klimas, Jolanta Vazalinskienė, Juozas Brundza, Renatas Šukys, Eglė Ganda Bogdanienė, Rūta Būtėnaitė, Marius Žalneravičius, Renata Maldutienė, Jolanta Talaikytė, Mantas Lesauskas, Laima Mikalauskienė, Laima Kėrienė, Vytas Palavinskas, Donaldas Andziulis, Mindaugas Šimkevičius and Virginija Degenienė.

Design Innovation Centre statement:

"Design Innovation Centre of Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA) is a centre of excellence established in 2007. The division provides commercialisation, development and renewal of new products, incubation activities and also promotes design in society.

"Since 2016, Design Innovation Centre is responsible for the intellectual property created in the academy. In 2018, divisions were opened in VAA faculties in Kaunas, Klaipėda and Telšiai. In 2019, The State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania granted VAA Design Innovation Centre the status of a PATLIB centre."

Young Designer Prize statement:

"Young Designer Prize is an annual competition organised in Lithuania since 2011 with 60-70 young designers competing for the awards every year. This year, 14 students were selected for the exhibition Young Designer Prize from four categories: product design, communication design, fashion design and design research and theory.

"The main aim of this competition is to encourage the professional development of design students, providing them with an opportunity to present ideas outside the Academy."


The Forgotten Woods by Elena Motiejūnaitė

"Nowadays commerce influences not only people's lifestyle and leisure, but also children's education. The commercialism of fairytales has also become a common phenomenon, which not only influences the survival of the fairytale tradition but also transforms the meaning and effect of fairytales.

"Child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim who noticed this tendency back in 1975 wrote that 'The dominant culture wishes to pretend, particularly where children are concerned, that the dark side of man does not exist, and professes a belief in an optimistic meliorism'. Today it has become even more obvious: in children stories, the biggest challenges are mostly casual everyday problems.

"This project is a virtual reality installation that demonstrates a positive side of the most common villain characters of Lithuanian folk tales. While the existence of negative characters in ancient folk tales has a purpose of highlighting the dark side of the human nature, traditional, archetypal characters of cultural heritage play a huge role in children's mental growth. In this installation spectators become witnesses of a child's inner monologues dedicated to three antagonists: the Witch, the Devil, and the Dragon."

Name: Elena Motiejūnaitė
Project: The Forgotten Woods
Course: Communication design
Website: behance.net/EliM
Contact address: elospastas@gmail.com


Transformative Identity of the Creator by Austėja Dzikaraitė

Transformative Identity of the Creator by Austėja Dzikaraitė

"Eccentrics, outcasts, and freaks living in their own world or, on the other hand, exceptional people with extraordinary talents? Society's attitudes toward creativity and creative people raise questions such as: what does it mean to be a creator and when do you become one? Where does creativity begin and how does it intertwine with everyday life?

"This conceptual project examines the development of the creator's personality from early childhood in search of answers about the origins of creativity. The project consists of a polyptych four-part book and a digital experience-sharing platform. Symbolic images and texts invite viewers to explore and identify with the creator's human transformation."

Name: Austėja Dzikaraitė
Project: Transformative Identity
Course: Communication design
Website: behance.net/austedd5111
Contact address: auste.d.d@gmail.com


If Only I Could by Eglė Kirlytė

If Only I Could by Eglė Kirlytė

"Many have probably heard the phrase 'if only I could, I would lie in the bed all day and do nothing'. We often wish to distance ourselves from irritants and dream about experiencing long term state of happiness. But does eternal happiness really exist? Maybe it's just an illusion?

"The personal project If Only I Could is based on personal experiences and tries to destroy illusions of long-term happiness. After all, without darkness there would be no light."

Name: If only I could
Project: Eglė Kirlytė
Course: Communication design
Website: jeitikgalėčiau.lt
Contact address: e.kirlyte@gmail.com


Neuru – Artificial Identity by Ada Rotomskytė

Neuru – Artificial Identity by Ada Rotomskytė

"Currently, the topic of Human Enhancement and its prospective applications raise a lot of discussions. With the rapid growth of neurotechnologies, the need for development and adaptation of clear ethical regulations is becoming ever more urgent.

"Neuru – Artificial Identity is a speculative design project that envisions the future where Brain-Computer Interface has become a widely accessible tool in the human society. This project simulates a virtual human enhancement platform that allows a person to make adjustments to their brain as required.

"The project aims at evoking curiosity and encouraging people to broaden their knowledge on this topic and to join the on-going debate on Human Enhancement."

Name: Ada Rotomskytė
Project: Neuru – Artificial Identity
Course: Communication design
Website: behance.net/adarotomskyte
Contact address: ada.rotomskyte@stud.vda.lt


Imprint No.1 by Liepa Aliukaitė

Imprint No.1 by Liepa Aliukaitė

"This experimental, artistic collection explores the relationship between dynamic nature and the artist's inherent creative process, which begins with exploration and then goes on to become a finite object.

"Reflecting on sentimental recollections and experiences of home and wildlife, the collection is based on a living creative process that enables us to perceive ourselves as the creator. The search for new artistic expressions questioning the limits of possibilities created by man for himself reveals unexplored creative fields.

"By combining the experiences of hiking through woods with the search for own identity, the main imagery of the collection is born: man and the unique fingerprint that each of us possesses, a tree and the pattern of its rings, as well as the tracks left by us while journeying through our daily rituals. The collection develops naturally based on the principle of 'walking a path', thus telling us about a continuous creative journey."

Name: Liepa Aliukaitė
Project: Imprint No.1
Course: Fashion design
Website: instagram.com/nuluzusliepa
Contact address: liepa.aliukaite@gmail.com


Reloaded Stones by Ieva Laskevičiūtė

Reloaded Stones by Ieva Laskevičiūtė

"Reloaded Stones jewellery collection analyses the relationship between carbonate-class minerals calcite, aragonite, and dolomite and hen eggshells. The chemical composition of these minerals almost perfectly matches that of eggshells found in most households environments.

"The eggshell is composed almost entirely of calcium and magnesium carbonates, and the chemical composition of the selected carbonate-class minerals (Ca(CO3), Ca(CO3), CaMg(CO3)2) class is dominated by this particular inorganic salt.

"Jewelry is made with these new eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing stones that promote zero-waste policy and thus become a substitute for precious stones in jewellery and design."

Name: Ieva Laskevičiūtė
Project: Reloaded Stones
Course: Fashion design
Website: instagram.com/l__ieva
Contact address: ibadae@gmail.com


After sin by Gintarė Janulaitytė

After sin by Gintarė Janulaitytė

"The subject of sin is interesting and relevant for a contemporary creator, the possible reason for this being the fact that humans cannot avoid sin, just as sin cannot exist without humans. This stimulates interest in how modern man understands sin, what kind of feelings it provokes, and how this subject is developed in art.

"With this collection, I do not portray sin or its types, but rather choose to convey feelings it invokes. After sin consists of nine brooches: smearing, anger, pain, despair, sadness, anxiety, loneliness, reconciliation, forgiveness. Feelings and emotions mark the body, cling to it and, though uncomfortable, are worn nevertheless."

Name: Gintarė Janulaitytė
Project: After sin
Course: Fashion design
Website: instagram.com/gintare_janulaityte
Contact address: gintareciukas@gmail.com


Timo by Barbora Budinaitė

Timo by Barbora Budinaitė

"Timo is an object designed to help a person plan their work based on the most productive time of the day. It also distinguishes break time during which a person is encouraged to engage in activities that are beneficial to their health.

"The massage side helps a person to calm down, become more invigorated and concentrate more easily on further work. Also, this object can easily be placed on a laptop screen, which especially comes in handy in busy working environments where it is difficult to concentrate, like cafes and public spaces."

Name: Barbora Budinaitė
Project: Timo
Course: Product design
Website: barborabudinaite.wixsite.com/mysite
Contact address: barbora.budinaite@gmail.com


Hospital Friend for Kids, Loo by Viktorija Mankevičiūtė

Hospital Friend for Kids, Loo by Viktorija Mankevičiūtė

"Loo is a buddy for children's hospital procedures. It takes care of a child's daily routine and wellbeing, reminds them about procedure appointments as well as the required items, indicates where the required room is, acts as a night light, and, most importantly, helps the child to combat loneliness and takes care of his or her wellbeing.

"In addition, it can call for help if the need arises. It can be operated both with voice and buttons. A minimalist design solution was chosen in order for Loo to be suitable for any child's age."

Name: Viktorija Mankevičiūtė
Project: Hospital Friend for Kids, Loo
Course: Product design
Website: behance.net/mankeviciuf6f5
Contact address: mankeviciute.viktorija@gmail.com


Familink – Family's Security Network by Vilius Vaura

Familink – Family's Security Network by Vilius Vaura

"Personal and family security is one of the main factors determining quality of life. Despite that, everyday people encounter security problems, such as robberies, attacks, critical health problems, hate crimes, and disappearance of persons. It is sometimes hard or even impossible for some people, including ones with hearing disorders, to call for help.

"These factors and a personal experience encountering armed robbery led to the creation of the Familink system. Familink is a personal and family's security network, that connects the whole family circle and emergency services, helps to record and collect valuable pieces of evidence, surveil pets and personal belongings. Familink is flexible, adaptive to every age group and individual and their needs."

Name: Vilius Vaura
Project: Familink – Family's Security Network
Course: Product design
Website: viliusvaura.wixsite.com/home
Contact address: viliusvaura@gmail.com


Žaltys by Paulina Bradūnaitė

"Žaltys is a music player that operates based on bone conduction. The device can be used by both hearing and hearing-impaired people. Inaudible music frequencies are transmitted to the wearer through vibrations. The whole object is flexible, adaptive, and does not restrict movements.

"The stereotypes make it hard for people with hearing impairments to find employment or to study at universities. This object strikes the stereotype into its most vulnerable place – if people with hearing impairments are able to enjoy music, why shouldn't they be able to do other things?

'The aesthetics of the product are based on Baltic futurism and demonstrates that Lithuanian culture can also exist in the future context."

Name: Paulina Bradūnaitė
Project: Žaltys
Course: Product design
Website: paulinabradunaite.wixsite.com/website
Contact address:  paulina.bradunaite@gmail.com


EDi creator by Karolina Petraitytė

EDi creator by Karolina Petraitytė

"The EDi creator collection consists of five educational tools for developing spatial-visual intelligence, by actively learning languages and mathematics and by developing creative skills.

"The tools are designed to enrich the educational process of fourth- and fifth-grade pupils. They help pupils to create spatial text structures, understand the interrelationships of geometric shapes, memorise the multiplication table, develop economic literacy, and learn the basics of spatial drawing.

"All tools are designed to be open to use and easily adaptable to different lesson activities. EDi creator brand is reflected in the whole collection through the same range of colours and stylistic elements."

Name: Karolina Petraitytė
Project: EDi creator
Course: Design research and theory
Website: www.kpdesign.lt
Contact address: petraityte.k@gmail.com


MUTED – Artistic Space Concept by Greta Ūbaitė

MUTED – Artistic Space Concept by Greta Ūbaitė

"MUTED – Multifunctional Upcycled Technology Expansion in Design – is the concept of artistic space related to the multifunctional development of upcycling technologies in design, costume and interior.

"By using upcycling as a creative method, objects with a multifunctional purpose are created that interact not only with the human body but are also incorporated in the surrounding space. In this way, even when not worn, the products are nevertheless used and made meaningful through their additional function.

"The idea of the creative project was suggested by the analysis of the cases of upcycling applicability examined in the theoretical work and the implementation of personal creative experiments. For the implementation of the creative project, a pretty non-standard material was chosen – nylon tights that became defective during the production phase and thus were no longer suitable for sale."

Name: Greta Ūbaitė
Project: MUTED – Artistic Space Concept
Course: Design research and theory
Website: instagram.com/muted.lt
Contact address: hgretosmail@gmail.com


Oli by Justinas Dadonas

Oli by Justinas Dadonas

"Open design is no longer merely a theoretical possibility, but an actual tool to empower users and enable new forms of distributed design and production. The ever-expanding maker movement, easy access to information and digital manufacturing tools demand new forms of design. Therefore, design discipline and the new maker movement can empower each other to become much greater factors of present social and economic changes.

"My research lead to the creation of Oli. It is a system of modular printed parts, that uses the principles of open and distributed design. These parts can not only be a tool for active environment creation, but also a way of bringing greater sense to individual agency."

Name: Justinas Dadonas
Project: Oli
Course:  Design research and theory
Website: instagram.com/panama_workshop/
Contact address: jdadonas@gmail.com


Virtual Design Festival's student and schools initiative offers a simple and affordable platform for student and graduate groups to present their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here for more details.

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EcoLogicStudio makes DIY algae kit for children learning at home in lockdown

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

BioBombola is an educational grow-your-own edible algae set for children developed by architecture and research practice EcoLogicStudio during the coronavirus pandemic.

The DIY kit can be used by families at home to cultivate a strain of Spirulina – a type of blue-green algae – that can be harvested and added to food and drinks as a source of protein.

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

BioBombola includes a one-metre-tall glass container called a photobioreactor, a 15-litre starter batch of spirulina cells, and a culture medium – a liquid or gel designed to support the growth of microorganisms – full of nutrients.

The kit also comes with a system of pipes and a pump to move air through the medium.

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

EcoLogicStudio founders Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto invented BioBombola to keep their children entertained while they homeschooled them during the coronavirus lockdown in London.

"The kids love harvesting Spirulina," said Pasquero.

"We make vegetable protein bread every week with it now. Spirulina has quite a sharp taste, somewhere between grass and nuts."

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

Growing the algae is an interactive lesson in photosynthesis, air pollution and sustainable food-growing methods.

The kit can absorb the equivalent of "two young trees" in carbon dioxide, said EcoLogicStudio, and releases the same amount of oxygen as "seven houseplants".

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

Children can help to harvest the algae multiple times a week, collecting up to seven grams of Spirulina a day.

The harvesting is done by using a pipe to syphon liquid from the photobioreactor, which is then passed through a filter to separate the Spirulina.

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

The BioBombola is designed to be simple to set up and maintain – all it needs is to be placed near a window or a grow lamp.

Interacting with the process is a hands-on way for children to learn how plants can purify the air and provide edible nutrients.

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

Air bubbling through the medium also makes a soothing background sound.

As well as providing parents with a tool for home learning, BioBombola is part of a wider project to educate society on more sustainable ways of living with nature in cities, EcoLogicStudio said.

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

"We believe that this product will contribute to re-design some of the logic that led us to the current health crisis," said Pasquero and Poletto.

"If we, collectively, transform air pollutants into highly nutritious aliments there will be fewer opportunities for viruses to exploit unsustainable food supply chains and for polluted atmospheres to reach and attach to us."

BioBombola by EcoLogicStudio

BioBimbola was developed as part of Photo.Synth.Etica, a research programme with Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD at Innsbruck University and Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO at The Bartlett that is engineering sustainable solutions for the Anthropocene, our current geological age.

An earlier part of this project saw EcoLogicStudio use algae to create a living curtain that can be draped over building facades.

Photography is by NAARO.


Project credits:

Project: EcoLogicStudio (Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto)
Design and prototyping team: Claudia Pasquero, Marco Poletto with Georgios Drakontaeidis, Riccardo Mangili, Eirini Tsomokou
Academic partners: Synthetic Landscape Lab IOUD Innsbruck University, Urban Morphogenesis Lab BPRO The Bartlett UCL

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Thursday, 2 July 2020

White Arkitekter designs starfish-shaped sea pool in Bergen

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

Swedish studio White Arkitekter has designed a floating pool in Bergen, Norway, which will be built as part of the redevelopment of the city's coastline into a waterfront park called True Blue.

The starfish-shaped pool is set to be built as part of the creation of an almost mile-long park on the Store Lungegårdsvann lake, which is an inlet of the North Sea.

To create the park White Arkitekter will build a 1,500-metre sea wall, which will form the backbone to a series of gardens and outdoor play areas.

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

"True Blue is our way to express the love story between the city of Bergen and water in all its forms, the mist, the rain, the running streams and the waiting sea," explained White Arkitekter's lead architect Niels de Bruin.

"The design principle is as old as time – given the harsh conditions of the natural coast in Bergen, like the medieval builders before us, we build a wall that forms the perimeter of the park," he continued.

"The space between the wall and the sea, a series of lush hills, meadows and wetlands, become a place to experience water, the wild and dangerous water as well as the soft and soothing one."

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

White Arkitekter's plan divides the park into three sections that will each be programmed differently. The floating pool will form part of the first section called the Urban beach, which will be located closest to the city.

"The Urban beach is designed to be a very large, yet protected, space for gatherings, events and parties," said De Bruin.

"The sea pool, floating, in view of the urban beach, is in reality, a multifunctional platform that can be used as a stage, transforming the beach and plazas to stands for large audiences."

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

The sea pool, which will be connected to the mainland by a pontoon, will consist of a series of triangular volumes arranged around three geometric pools.

The triangular forms will shelter a sauna, picnic areas and kayak rental facilities.

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

"Strong geometrical shapes are a fantastic way to express architecture in a natural landscape," said De Bruin.

"The triangular volumes are both elegant and functional, as they have a low centre of gravity, which makes them a prime candidate for a floating structure," he continued.

"Linking the triangulated forms together also makes a starfish pattern. The triangle-shaped silhouettes of the surrounding mountains become part of this three-dimensional landscape."

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

Although Bergen is situated around the same latitude as Helsinki in Finland, Saint Petersburg in Russia and Anchorage in Alaska, De Bruin believes that there is a demand in the city for beaches and that sea pools could be built even further north.

"It has become common knowledge that Scandinavians love saunas, which are used summer and winter, in conjunction with natural water, be it sea, the river or a lake," he said.

"A cold dip after a sauna is part of the Scandinavian cultural heritage. The advantage the coast of Norway offers is that the water is heated by the Gulf stream making it warm considering the latitude," he continued.

"As a result, there is a potential to build sea pools all the way up to the arctic circle! The city of Bergen has worked with improving water contact along the coast, with a series of new beaches and boardwalks."

True Blue beach and sea pool in Bergen. Norway, by White Arkitekter 

White Arkitekter is led by CEO Alexandra Hagen, who is a judge for this year's Dezeen Awards.

At an event to celebrate the launch of awards, Hagen made a pledge that every building it designs will be carbon neutral by 2030.

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Autoban's diverse portfolio is "grounded in storytelling"

Joali Maldives by Autoban

VDF studio profile: Autoban is a multidisciplinary studio based in Istanbul, Turkey, which was established to "create meaningful designs that put forward enthralling narratives".

Founded in 2003 by Seyhan Özdemir Sarper and Sefer Çağlar, who were later joined by Efe Aydar, the studio's portfolio spans architecture and interiors, as well as product and experiential design developed for various sectors in cities across Europe and Asia.

Whatever the scale of the project, Autoban's ambition throughout is to act as a storyteller and provide end-users with characterful, unexpected and memorable experiences.

Heydar Aliyev International Airport terminal in Baku by Autoban
Key projects include its unconventional terminal interior for Heydar Aliyev International Airport

"Known for its signature multi-layered design approach grounded in storytelling, Autoban creates stimulating and sensory environments and experiences that are deeply rooted in cultural, social and geographic narratives, while pushing boundaries and challenging expectations," said the studio.

"Our main concern is creating spaces or objects that touch people's lives," it continued. "Good design should offer a singular experience to those who encounter or inhabit it, it should be memorable, characterful and surprising – a timeless design that speaks powerfully to both place and people."

Kilimanjaro restaurant by Autoban
In its home city of Istanbul, Autoban built the Kilimanjaro restaurant within an old brewery

An Autoban project that captures the studio's ethos is the Heydar Aliyev International Airport terminal in Baku, which was designed to challenge convention and make the hall a more welcoming environment.

The scheme involved the design and construction of cavernous, cocoon-like pods, built from wood, to divide up the terminal and create small, intimate hubs for passengers.

"Autoban's design for the Heydar Aliyev International Terminal displays the studios experimental and genre-defying approach, and overturns airport conventions of vast spaces and impersonal experiences, offering a new experience entirely to passengers," the studio explained.

Nest Chair by Autoban
Autoban's portfolio also includes installations and furniture designs, like its Nest Chair

Other significant projects by Autoban include Joali Maldives, a collection of villas in the small island nation in South Asia. The villas feature organic shapes and interior details made from tactile, locally-sourced materials like wood and rattan, intended to capture the spirit of the Maldives.

In its home city of Istanbul, the studio's most celebrated scheme is its interior design for the Kilimanjaro restaurant, which is located within a historic brewery.

The focal point of the restaurant is a sculptural, curvaceous bar that evokes an art installation, which is teamed with an industrial material palette to pay homage to the building's former use.

The Wish Machine by Autoban
One of its notable installations is The Wish Machine, created for the 2016 London Design Biennale

Autoban also has a significant presence in the design world, where it is best known for its immersive installations and furniture collections that are sold internationally.

Notable examples include the statement Nest Chair – a lounge chair distinguished by its protective shell-like form that offers users a secluded cosy space – and The Wish Machine installation.

Presented at the inaugural London Design Biennale in 2016, The Wish Machine was a pneumatic messaging system that transported the wishes of visitors, written on a piece of paper, to an unknown destination via a system of pressurised pipes.

Studio: Autoban
Website: www.autoban.com
Contact address: info@autoban.com


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Through a Blur of Migratory Birds, Photographer Sankar Sridhar Captures the Rituals of the Yamuna River

All images © Sankar Sridhar, shared with permission

When Dehli-based photographer Sankar Sridhar visits the Yamuna River in winter, he observes hundreds of gulls, terns, and other birds as they flock to the Ganges tributary that flows through the Indian city. Despite the river’s inability to maintain a thriving ecosystem in that stretch, the avians are spurred by site fidelity as they migrate each year, a ritualistic act Sridhar recently captured in a series titled Long Live the River.

Because the tributary attracts such an influx of avians, it’s also a site of religiosity and legend. People travel to the water to feed the birds, an act thought to bring good karma, and disperse offerings for their loved ones who’ve died. “My approach to documenting life along a small stretch of this river was driven by the deep connection of rivers and life and divinity in Hindu texts, mythology, and legend. The fact that the Yamuna is considered the only river with the power to grant immortality to humans seemed an irony that could not be overlooked,” the photographer says.

Fifteen drains of untreated wastewater from household, municipal, and industrial sources flow into the tributary, saturating it with chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and garbage that eliminate aquatic life. However, Sridhar notes that in 2017, officials recorded 24 bird species residing in the river’s wetlands. “This finding came as a surprise, given the greatly degraded water quality of the Yamuna,” he says.

Using a low shutter speed, Sridhar captures the annual rituals through clouds of Dehli’s thick smog, blurring the flying creatures as they swoop over the water. The obscured visitors mar clear shots of boats and the horizons as they appear to linger above the water in shadowy flocks. “I aimed to impart a surreal touch to the images by using the boats as the fabled transport into the afterlife while flight-paths of the birds as metaphors —as much for the souls of the dead as the mad chaos in our world that blinds us to the damage we do to the environment,” he says. “Throughout, though, the river remains a giver of life, despite having the life sucked out of her.”

An avid outdoor photographer, Sridhar shares his projects focused on Himalayan landscapes and local communities on Behance and Instagram.

 



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