Jayashree Venkatadurai - Please mind the Gap

Delhi, the capital of India puts me in a state of constant fear as if I am being under surveillance here 24/7. As we travel across places like Lodhi Road and Rashtrapathi Bhawan the Indo-sarascenic buildings that carry the authority of power reminds me of wild elephants. There is no single movie posters on the walls. The number of cyclers and pedestrians are much lesser compared to that of the four wheelers. The cleansing of the capital in these areas as against the other metropolitan cities makes one compare it with the cliché of someone declaring that they have taken bath simply after washing their face. Where the rest of the metropolitan towns are congested with slums and skyscrapers loomed together Delhi remains a classical exception. The contrast between Chandni Chowk and South Extension, Khirki Gaon and Gurgaon makes one think about the gaps in the social class. As I traveled by metro the announcement that comes before the arrival of each station “Please mind the gap” was quiet thought provoking inspired by which I planned to do this work. As I researched further I came to know when the London metro came in to existence in early 60’s there had been lot of artistic attempts inspired by the announcement “Mind the Gap”. I plan to install a video projection on this theme.