Project 3 - Final Statement

Shloka Coral Dhar

Displaced Kashmiri, born 1999

Unknown Rug Creature in Environment

2022

Traditional Kashmiri rug motif, Blender, 3-D printing, VR

Not owned by anyone

Background

The Kashmiri Pandit genocide of 1990 forcefully removed my family from Kashmir, where we have lived for many generations. My surname, Dhar, can be traced all the way back to 16th Century CE Kashmir. So much of my Kashmiri heritage has been erased and lost, family heirlooms left behind to save future generations. The fading connection to my home and the traditions and craft making drive my interest in these processes and conserving them.

In the previous project, where I created the creature, I wanted to integrate my digital skills with traditional methods of fabrication. Traditional Kashmiri rugs are made from repeatedly knotting silk thread, and they take years to make. After studying the rugs present at my grandparents house, I found a motif that I did not recognize. It is unclear if it is a fruit or floral motif. This motif has overtaken my mind for the past two years and has been repeated in many different mediums throughout my practice. Its repetition is a fabricated method of connection to my culture, but it provides comfort nonetheless. In the digital medium, I wanted to explore its enigmatic nature. By creating a creature out of the motif, it transforms it into a fantastical realm that not only embraces my ignorance, but integrates it with my own reality.

Unknown Rug Creature in its Environment

In this project, I placed the rug creature into its own environment. As it is a motif that is most likely derived from a plant, I used the forest environment to ground the creature. The forest environment is a liminal space, as it references a forest but it is not an exact rendition of any particular forest. Here, the creature can exist on its own without any external influences. There were many political influences that drove the Kashmiri textile trade, each having their own influence on the way the traditional Kashmiri motifs evolved. For example, the traditional Kashmiri paisley pattern was altered to sell in the European market. However, in this forest, the creature is allowed to roam freely. The animation of the creature represents a care-free nature, with the creature sitting on a tree stump and swinging its legs. The rest of the creature’s body moves in an organic manner, adding a jelly-like quality to the organism. The colors emulate this, giving the creature an alien amoebic look.

The creature is accompanied by three tree stumps and three flowers, all of which mirror the large scale of the creature. To continue the project, I would add more elements to the forest, such as different flowers, and integrate the props into the forest better. Furthermore, I want to add replicates of the same creature at a smaller scale, and disperse them throughout the forest. They would be walking around the forest, circling trees, smelling flowers, and dancing. However, the main creature would be the largest one. Additionally, the flowers would also have some animations, such as blowing in the wind. This would bring the entire forest alive and create a large area of exploration.