DISPLAY

The display for the nettipattam has been dealt with on the level of individual elements. Its characteristic of being composed of thousands of pieces enable it to be exploded.

An attempt has been made to atomise and disintegrate the object and by juxtaposing it with the sounds of the making of the Nettipattam, create an abstract narrative about the forging of the universe.

This is based on the belief that it symbolises the entire pantheon of the Hindu Gods ,with Ganesh as central.

Thus, this tightly packed object has been opened to a cosmic realm.

Each of the rooms leadng up to the final room at the back shall have a parasol mounted on the cieling . These lead to the last small room which is the display area for objects relating to the Pooram festivals. There the Nettipattam is displayed facing a long corridor which is blackened out and dark with very selective lighting accentuating the magic of the installation.

On another wall are the photographs of the nettipattam within the festival. Also along with that is the actual placing together and making of the nettipattam, which enlightens one of its construction. In a way it is already atomised visually.

Standing facing the nettipattam,, one can turn around to see the installation. Espesially when one exits the installation room, one is faced with the nettipattam thus eliciting parallels and ideas .

POSTER

POSTER








The poster has been constructed with a contemporary feel to it, using solid colours used prominently in the traditional art of kerala. The dramatic figure conveys a feeling of the museum, the traditional placed in the contemporary setting obviuosly out of context and hence ready to be opened up.




This option shows a celebration of the process of making a statuette from wood of a traditonal artefact, retaining the contemporary feel of the earlier poster.

CATALOGUE

CATALOGUE COVER

THe catalogue cover indicates the inner workings of the display of the artefacts. It implies the baring of the object including the intentions of its display.

THE DOUBLE SPREAD FOR THE CATALOGUE

The Catalogue spread indicates a style used throughout with pronounced colours, simply laid out. It involves the segregation of information into a description and understanding of the context of the nettipattam, including the intention of the artist in the display of the object.

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"The various globes and forms symbolise Ganesha and the entire pantheon of the Hindu Gods."

Expanding on this concept ,the installation re contextualises visually the individual elements of the object.

Separating these elements and connecting them each as a separate entity to worship and reflection, changes the visually ornamental value of the object opening it up to the viewer.

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Using shadow puppetry to exemplify the festaivla and its grandeur along with location sound to situate it in a visual and aural context.. Almost replicating the festival scenario with numerous nettipattams hanging from the cieling implicating a realist viewing of the object in its context.


Using mirrors to elaborate on the "repetition" characteristic of the oject amd its individual grandeur diminishing in the magnificence of the festival

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keywords :

grandeur plurality reflective repetition light

part of an array rhythm in sound and space

ritual aspects symbolise


ATOMISATION

MIRRORING

DECONSTRUCTION

SYMBOL

important aspects:

The back being inaccessible to view
The process of creation
Its final participation

VISUAL:

surface formation /elephant skin

mirrors creating repetition as in the festival

light changing on the object through a skylight

projections of GOD-ANIMAL-MAN


SOUND:

sound narrative of the process of making of netipattam,
with photographs of the same behind the object itself.. opening itself up to directioning the audience based on their own connections

using site/festival specific music to act as a context and rhythm
maybe separating the parts of the netipattam and creating a sound based visual display of its individual parts.

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NETTIPATTAM:

NETTI = forehead..

Ornamental headdress for elephants during festivals in Kerala specially at the Thrissur Pooram festival at Thrissur.

‘Nettipattams’ are fashioned out of gold-covered brass and ornamental cloth.

Around three and a half kilograms of copper/brass and three sovereigns (24 gm) of gold go into the making of a nettipattam. It takes around 20 days to craft this ornament.

An elephant of 9 to 10 ft in height would require an ornament of 60 to 66 inch in length with at least 11 crescent .

About 5,500 gold-plated copper balls are stitched on thick cloth to create a `nettippattam'.


Nettipattam is primarily made in Thiruvankulam village of Ernakulam District and the adjoining areas of Thrissur. One of the famous families in Trichur district of Kerala called Venkitadri family have made ornaments for three generations, especially for the famous Thrissur pooram or festival.
They decorate 150 elephants with ornaments for temple festivals.


The ‘nettipattam’ symbolises Lord Ganapathi in full splendour. The biggest half-sphere on the caparison represents Ganapathi, while the smaller ones and the crescents are symbolic of the entire pantheon of Hindu gods.

One Hindu legend has it that Brahma designed the first ‘nettippattam’ for Airavatham, the mythological white elephant.

http://www.webonautics.com/ethnicindia/festivals/pooram2.html

http://www.designhabit.com/museums.html

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OBJECT : NETTIPATTAM

MUSEOLOGY

"A cabinet of curiosity"

"a zoo is a caricature"

"a wax figure is a travesty"

"anima = soul .... to animate"

"fact turns to deduction then inference"

"museum is a cemetary?"

"more than a single object creates rhythm"

"atomisation can be your solution"