Photo Essay – The Home Search…

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Home Search… is a series of Photographs, a photo essay by Architect Meehaj Thakkar from Ahmedabad, which questioned the changes and transformation in housing industries and was exhibited at CEPT University by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at their event ”Ottlo” in October 2012.

Architect/Artists Name: Meehaj Thakkar
Specialization: Architecture, Photography
Location: Ahmedabad, INDIA
Email: meehaj@gmail.com

Meehaj Thakkar is an Architect and passionate traveler based in Ahmedabad.  He photographs to capture a certain feeling or an emotion to which he personally relates.

His concern basically revolves around the issues of architecture and how it affects our life in general. He has worked  at Abhikram/Panika during his college days and also after his graduation, and currently through his photographic studies, he is trying to evolve a Visual language which can represent our environment in an appropriate manner.

Here is how this young and thoughtful architect conveys his feelings through a series of open ended questions –

Many a times, it has happened that as I move outside my house to visit some place, I have somehow landed up at Hridaya-kunj…

I have always found myself very much attached to this house and feel that there are certain hidden qualities that this house possess, which makes me self aware of the few things which I don’t want.

Having felt the changes and transformation that the housing industry has gone through during past few years, especially in this 21 st century, few questions have started arising…..

• Since the designers are taught to be creative and are suppose to be the creators, does that mean that they should  design  each and every thing?
• Cannot a space grow on its own pace?
• Should not we have a re-look at some of the few smaller things that a simple house has always offered? 
• Does development always mean that we need to create something or the other, Can’t sometimes it can even be static?

About Hridayakunj

During 1918-1930, it was the residential quarters of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of the nation.

This is a small house in the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.

The ashram is now a national monument established by the Government of India due to its significance for the Indian independence movement in the form of the Dandi March in 1930.

It was Gandhiji who said: “I do not want to stay in a house with all its windows and doors shut. I want a house with all its windows and doors open where the cultural breezes of all lands and nations blow through my house. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any”.

The focus in this set of images in “The home search” is to have a re-look at our simple yet  timeless living environment ……

space

 

 

 

 

 

By- Ar. Meehaj Thakkar, Ahmedabad

Published Work/Awards:

• Photo essay: “Reflections….” which talks about our intrinsic relationship with our living environment published in Indian Architecture + Builder (IA+B) magazine in February,2012 issue.
• First prize for National photography competition on theme: “Eradicate Poverty” held by CEE, Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest in 2011.
• Consolation prize for National photography competition on theme: “Care for Life” held by CEE, Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest in 2011.
• First prize in annual exhibition/competition at A.P.I.E.D IN 2010.
• Second prize in annual exhibition/competition at A.P.I.E.D in 2009.

Exhibitions:

• Series of Photographs for the series “The Home Search” which questioned the changes and transformation in Housing industries  was exhibited at CEPT University by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at their event ”Ottlo” in October 2012. (Group exhibition)
• Thesis project : “ Center for secondary citizens” at Kankroli, which questioned the present method of functioning of orphanages across the country and our social responsibility towards them, was a part of exhibition of the works done by our school at  NASA  convention -2011.
• Photography works was a part of exhibition by a local body: Art beat with various kinds of artists at Central Mall, Vadodara in 2011. (Group exhibition)
• Photo documentation works of Rural Rajasthan were exhibited at A.P.I.E.D exhibition hall in 2010.(Group exhibition)
• Photo documentation works on Mandu exhibited at A.P.I.E.D exhibition hall in 2009. (Group exhibition)
• Photography work selected for  National competition/Exhibition by Lalit Kala Academy-Gujarat in 2012 and for Ahmedabad Archives Photography competition in 2013. (Group exhibition)