CHENNAI: How well do we know the city? Heritage sites and the beach aside, have we tried to shine the spotlight on its chaos, gender issues, migrant population and ever-so-slowly expanding boundaries? Urban History Project, an initiative by DakshinaChitra’s incubator programme Thinai, and Supportive Cities, a group that works towards supporting the aspirations of artistes in the city, does just that.
The project, which will kick-start in January, will have 16 participants — those based in Chennai and outside with roots in Chennai — studying the various aspects of the city over a period of six months. “While one of them is researching on Chennai and sex, and all the issues that intertwine with that subject, there are a few others studying about the little towns which were outside the city and are now a part of it. This would extrapolate into the issues of migration and changes in mapping. Then there are others who are exploring the scene of self-help groups in the city,” says Meenakshi Thirukode, creative director, DakshinaChitra.
The participants, who were selected after a three-level process — filling of online application, a questionnaire about their interest in the project, and orientation programme — were among the 40 who applied from all across India. To their surprise, those interested in the city were not restricted to just Chennaiites. “We had people from Mumbai and North East wanting to be part of it,” says Meenakshi. However, a majority of the participants including photographers, writers, filmmakers, students, homemakers and artists, are based in Chennai. “Each of them have already decided on what they are going to work on. From our side, we would be providing them necessary inputs in terms of establishing a network with like-minded people, or giving them access to the archives of DakshinaChitra,” says Meenakshi.
At the end of six months, the museum at DakshinaChitra will exhibit the works of the participants — be it in the form of essays, photographs, online content or films — and showcase the city as explored thought their lenses. “The project need not necessarily be completed. The event would be just a physical manifestation of what they have done till then. Our aim is to have them take it beyond the auspice of DakshinaChitra or Supportive Cities. We inspire them with examples of Humans of New York or Do Din, a festival celebrating the city, in Hyderabad,” says Meenakshi, who worked as an independent curator in New York, before returning to India in June.
According to her, while events like heritage walks, cycle rallies and performances that happen in the city throughout the year, especially during the Madras Week, do give a glimpse of the city’s heritage, they do not take it any further. “Exploring the city involves understanding the interrelation among its socio, political and cultural aspects. It is about going deeper, and understanding the way we live, life of flower vendors, how the streets wind, traffic patterns and so on. This project will give that time and creative space for participants to think and collaborate,” she says. While such projects are common in the West, this would be the first of its kind in the city. Depending on its success, the team might make it an annual event, says Meenakshi.
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