Title: Big Catch, The Fluid city project. 2010. Medium: Fishing net, none biodegradable debris, Iron Armature. Size: Variable. Description: In my daily experience of travelling to my studio which is located in Vitawa Koliwada (Thane), I come across the Creek where one encounters the disastrous effects of urban waste dumped in its waters. Fishermen here get garbage and non-biodegradable debris in their fishing net and given the level of pollution, the fish are getting scarce day by day. The debris consists of Polystyrene, Plastics bags and bottles, Broken electrical equipment, Torn footwear, etc. Which is destroying the ecosystem of this area. Traditional systems of fishing trade are also disappearing and many fishermen row their boats to other creeks to catch fish.
The idea of garbage sculpture in the form of fish is a critique of this condition and is almost like a new species of fish mutating out of our terrible environment. In a performative mode. I reiterated act of fishing on the creek and collected this urban wasted in the colourful nets to create large fish sculptures an out of it. These fish sculptures are part of the public art project 'The Fluid City' Co-curated by Mohile Parekh centre and Artoxygen in 2010. These works recall my personal history of belonging to the Koli Community and brings in the narratives of loss of livelihood of community and also the destruction of natural landscape around Thane Creek.
