FOREST LANDS
TRAVEL THEMED STUDIOS FOUNDATION PROGRAM Batch 2020
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MULLAI - FOREST LAND Mullai is the land of the forest. The forest is rich with lakes, waterfalls, teak, bamboo and sandalwood. In this region millet grows and wild bees are a source of honey. Mullai or Jasmine (Jasminum auriculatum) is the flower of the forests. The inhabitants were known as kovalar, ayar and idaiyar, whose occupation included livestock, shifting cultivation, husbandry and dairy farming. The kovalars were cowherder and the ayar were shepherd. Their settlements were known as pāti and used the suffixes patti, vati, katu and ental attached to their place-names. Their headmen bore the titles Annal, Tonral, Kuramporai, Nadan and Manaivi.
The sun goes down and the sky reddens, pain grows sharp, light dwindles. Then is evening when jasmine flowers open, the deluded say. But evening is the great brightening dawn when crested cocks crow all through the tall city and evening is the whole day for those without their lovers. (Kuruntokai-234) tr. George L. Hart
ROUTE MAP
RVS - EXPEDITION
mullai and us
An old elephant, walks on and on, until the day his breath draws faint, he walks on and on, his legs swollen and his tusks gone, he takes a quick breath to stop, in front of him lies a small stone, he sits by the stone atop, all alone, as he waits patiently for one to come, he begins to turn to stone, his face frozen with the fear of what he’s become
- Samhitha Practicing Architecture Student Batch 2020 - 2025
FACULTY
Artist KOILPITCHAI PRABHAKAR An Artist who has been selected under top 100 for a National award given by Lalit Kala Academy with around more than 15 Years of experience in the field. Beginning out as a commercial artist, he brought the ethos of promotion into fine art, even going so far as to say, “Making money is art.” Such attitudes blew away the existential declarations of Abstract Expressionism. His area of expertise includes Ceramic Design
CO-ORD IN AT O RS
Ar. PRITHVI MAHADEVAN Ar. Prithvi Mahadevan is a young architect with an increasing love for ecology and the social aspects of the society. She has been involved in research and mapping of ecology of the city of Chennai, with special focus on the water resources. She is also actively involved in using the research projects as a container to conduct the Urban design Studio.
Koonthakulam
Pooliyurkurichi
DAY 1
Koonthakulam Pooliyurkuruchi Dohnavur Dohnavur
DAY 1
DAY 1
Koonthakulam - Bird Sanctury & Village Study Arriving at Koonthakulam Koonthakulam is a small village near Thirunelveli where the sanctuary is actively protected and managed by the Koonthankulam village community. The local people take a keen interest in protecting this sanctuary. The village is a humble setup with interesting traditional architecture.
Traditional eri infrastructure
The main aim to reach here was to see a direct link of forest ecosystems with flora and fauna as they cannot exist in isolation. Koonthakulam is a great example of how these ecosystems can be protected and enabled by humans too. The Koonthakulam village actively participates in maintaining and keeping the bird sanctury intact. The students roamed around talking to people and seeing these inter relationships.
Day 1 begins
Knowing about Koonthakulam ecosystem and its connection to the forests
Interacting and knowing about the village, life in the village and people.
Exotic eating spots - outside Koonthakulam temple
Exotic eating spots - outside Pooliyurkurichi temple
Dohnavur - The place that filled everyone’s heart even without entering inside.
Dohnavur Architecture
Pooliyurkurichi and Dohnavur Pooliyurkurichi
Pooliyurkurichi is a small village in between Koonthakulam and Dohnavur where we stopped for lunch. On the way we saw this abandoned Chola time temple where lunch was served from a local shop.
Dohnavur
Dohnavur is small village near Thirunelveli. Carmichael’s fellowship transformed Dohnavur into a sanctuary for over one thousand children who would otherwise have faced a bleak future.
Amy Beatrice Carmichael (16 December 1867 – 18 January 1951) was an Irish Christian missionary in India, who opened an orphanage and founded a mission in Dohnavur. She served in India for 55 years without furlough and wrote many books about the missionary work there. Carmichael often said that her Ministry of rescuing temple children started with a girl named Preena. The architecture of the fellowship was rustic and along the lines of Laurie Baker style. The experience of reaching and walking around was an experience and half.
Examining the temple - figuring out signs for time of built and type of temple.
Interacting with locals to ask about the temple
Lunch is served - Finding exotic places to eat
1
MULLAI DAY 1
EXCERCISE on the life and works of Amy
Carmeigal from Dohnavur
This excercise is derived from the theme of MULLAI where the students explored painting on glass. This excecise is derived from the patterns of stain glass from churches that is being taughi in History. The concept of the design of glass is derived from the life of Amy Carmeigal who is public figure established in Dohnavur. She is like a mother who rescued many children from the fate of becoming abused as devadasis. The main aim of the excercise is to create composition with symmetrical balance and composition. The stories are represented in colour and pattern composition that conveys a soothing but a hard hitting story. Stain glass is yet another medium of expression of art.
Debriefing session with K.P. sir on the first day. The session included opening up the students to explore and observe. The aim of the session was to understand what was learnt and observed on the particular day.
Temple
Pachaiyar Dam
DAY 2
Kalakkad Vageeshwarar Temple Pachaiyar Dam Trekk in the forest Trekk
DAY 2 Kalakkad - Sri Vageeswarar Temple Sri Vageeswarar Temple
Live Sketch by K.P. Sir
Sri Vageeswarar Temple is one old secluded temple in the town of Kalakkad located 45kms from Thirunelveli. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a 135 ft (41 m) gateway tower containing 1,500 stucco images. The temple was originally built by Pandyas during the 13th century and Nayak kings commissioned pillared halls and major shrines of the temple during the 15-16th century. The atmosphere of the temple was completely serene and calming. Even with a group of 42 being around in the temple, the serenity was never disturbed. Each and everyone found one corner to sit back and sketch the scapes of the temple. Live Sketch by students
gathering information
Checking the musical pillars
Live Sketching Session
Kacheri Session @ temple
MULLAI EXCERCISE on layering and understanding planes
2
This excercise has been ideated for the understanding of planes in an image. It also makes one feel the depth of a space through an image. The main aim of the excercise is to create layers from a persepective image where the farthest is seen in the end and the subsequent layers are seen one above the other. The excericse is a combination of understanding planes and creating a three dimensional composition of a perspective image.
reaching the stream
Watching the dam
Catching fish in the stream - impromptu group activity
Trekk in the forest The Pachaiyar dam is surrounded by the forests of the Western Ghats that are filled with pristine indigenous forests that are in many ways therapeutic. The trekk in the forest is one of the key events of the trip where we walked inside the grassy forests for about 3 kms to meet the Pachaiyar River in its full glory. The students interacted with nature like it was their home. Splashing the pristine water on the face and catching fish were highlights of the trekk. The trekk was also an experience that made the students experience and notice their surroundings and the environment with care and caution. All in all it was a wonderful experience of MULLAI.
Pachaiyar Dam and Trekk in the forest Pachaiyar Dam
Interacting with nature
The Pachaiyar dam holds the pristine and medicinal waters of the Western Ghats that flows to it as Pachaiyar River. The River originates on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats approximately 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It then converges with the Tamarabharani River. Nine anicuts have been built across it before it loses its identity in the Tamarabharani River.
Group Photo in the forest
finding places to eat
Interacting with nature
Pattamadai
Nursery
DAY 3
Pattamadai Papanasam - Siddha Vaidyar Nursery Papanasam Temple Papanasam Temple
DAY 3 Pattamadai Pattamadai
Handloom Dhari in action
Pattamadai is a town in downsouth near Thirunelveli. It is famous for mat industry which produces mats crafted out of korai grass (Reed plant) also called as Indian Chattai. These korai or reed grass are a byproduct from the forests. Thus, the place was chosen to illustrate the cottage industries that are dependant on the forests of Western Ghats. Machine Dhari and Handloom Dhari was experienced by the students to understand the different process of the same. The handloon dhari was mainly loved by the students because of its effort and simplicity.
Factory with Machine Dhari
The students excitedly also bought many of the products done with pai for their friends and family.
finding places to eat - Orchard with peacocks
Handloom Dhari
Preparing the reed grass
Machine Dhari in action
Finished product display
Handloom Dhari
3
MULLAI DAY 1
EXCERCISE on creating a Pai Pattern inspired by
the rich diversity of Western Ghats
This excercise was ideated from the MULLAI trip where we visited Pattamadai village which is famous for creating reed mats of ‘Pai’. The idea of this excercise is to understand scale, symmetry, balance, colour and pattern. The sheet is scaled to be 1/3 rd of the Pai size. The concept of the excercise is to be chosen from animals / birds / insects / reptiles that are indigenous to the Western Ghats. Western ghats is one ecosystem that is filled with rich forms of flora and fauna that are endemic to our country. From the theme of MULLAI the composition of Pai excercise is based on these wildlife showing their life cycle or their sheer brillant existence. Many composition are asymetrically balanced in colour, pattern and design. This excercise also hones the use of complimentary colours and colours in contrast.
Sidhha Vaidyar Nursery
Tamarabharani River
Group Photo @ Papanasam Temple
Papanasam Temple Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam, a village in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It is located 60 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian architecture, the temple has three precincts. Shiva is worshipped as Papanasanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagammai. Papanasam Temple
Papanasam Siddha Vaidyar Temple Nursery
Sidhha Vaidyar Nursery
On the way to Papanasam we stumbled upon an old dilapidated temple where we stopped to eat. It turned out to be a nursery that is being run by a Siddha Vaidyar in the vicinity. The Nursery had different types of plants and trees that have high medicinal values. Some of the species are very rare to find. The students went around and sketched the leaves.
Sketching leaves from the nursery
Sidhha Vaidyar Nursery
Food Spot for the Day
MULLAI EXCERCISE on medicinal plants as Plaster of Paris Model
4
This excercise is derived from the theme of MULLAI where the students explored a SIDDHA VAIDYAR’s nursery with all kinds of medicinal plants. The concept of the excercise is derived from these plants. The material explored here is Plaster of Paris where the leaves of the thus chosen leaves are drawn and carved out. The positive negative spaces create the structure of the leaves and the plant as such. The Plaster of Paris mould is carved with carving tools. The main aim of the excercise is material exploration where the students are exposed to different kinds of materials that can be used for model making in the subsequent semesters. The composition is of the excercise also needs to be balanced and composed neatly in the 20 X 20 square.
Trekk
Visiting Settlements
DAY 4
Pandrimalai Trekk to the stream Settlements around Visiting Tribal People Meeting the Tribal Community
DAY 4
Pandrimalai Trekk in Pandrimalai
Waterfall and fun
Pandrimalai is a Village in Reddiyarchatiram Taluk in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It is located 14 KM towards North from District head quarters Dindigul. It is a place that encompasses many tribal settlements and precious and untouched biodiversity of the Western Ghats. A place filled with simple living and rich natural heritage, it was the best place for a trekk to reach the waterfall.
Interacting with people of the forest
The students alongwith Director Mr. Stephen C P and Academic Head Reeveezee M Antony went on a 5+ km trekk to a small waterfall in the valley with the help of local people and the faculty co-ordinators. It was a truly a experience to behold and feel the essence of forests.
Trekk in Pandrimalai
Trekk in Pandrimalai
Trekk in Pandrimalai
Group Photo @ the waterfall
Trekk in Pandrimalai
Director sir and Academic head joining us for the trekk
knowing the issues faced by the tribal people
knowing about the lifestyle of the tribal people
playing with kids in the village
Lifestyle and life in the forests
Meeting the locals After the trekk in the forests of Pandrimalai, we went around the villages of tribal people to know about them and their lifestyle. The students ask them questions and sketched their life and the way the live to understand the difference in lifestyle so far away, up in the mountains. The experience also made them compare their lifestyle and privilege that they have.
Interacting with the locals and knowing about their life
knowing about the lifestyle of the tribal people
Discussion with the locals knowing about their issues
DAY 5 Vanagam
DAY 5 Vanagam Barren land to a Forest and Farmland - Namalvar’s Vanagam In Nammalvar’s words, Vanagam is motherland for the people who are discriminated by society in the name of any bifurcation and also for those came out from the mainstream due to pressure given by so called development activities and pseudo – science. The main vision of the organisation is to provide poison free food, medication without medicine and barrier-less schools. The main aim to take our students to Vanagam was to understand how man and nature can coexist together in harmony. The whole idea of vanagam was to sustainability and ecological living that is less detrimental to the environmental. Vanagam as a place taught us ways of living that is less impactful to the environment but also enriching to the soul.
Kambha kuzhu + kathrika varuval for breakfast
Morning milkless tea
Morning milkless tea
humble living with goats
session at the Karuvellai maram
session at Nammalvar sammadhi
chilliing in the courtyard
session with Raja about Vanagam
field study in the farms
Group photo in Vanagam
field study in the farms
Aloe vera - that saved the Vanagam Bhoomi
field study in the farms
Thappa aatam
field study in the farms
field study in the farms
5
DAY MULLAI 1
EXCERCISE on creating a tile mosaic on the
theme of a heartfelt experience from the trip
This excercise has been ideated for MULLAI theme. It is a material exploration excercise where broken tiles are used in creating a pattern with concept. The concept for the tile excercise has been derived from the lives of the tribal people from the Western Ghats. The main aim of the excercise is to understand the quality of the material and create concepts based on the same. The excercise also includes working on colour composition and patterns that convey a concept idea. The excercise is also derivative of group work and requires patience and imagination.
6
DAY ART 1
STUDIO EXCERCISE on painting canvas from
the MULLAI trip
This excercise has been ideated to paint an acrylic canvas with the landscapes and streetscapes from the MULLAI trip. The mullai trip was filled with many picturesque places in the forests of Western ghats that were beautiful and worth a watch. The students selected their favourite scene and painted it in acrylic colours on a canvas. Acrylic painting are executed in the medium of synthetic acrylic resins. Acrylics dry rapidly, serve as a vehicle for any kind of pigment, and are capable of giving both the transparent brilliance of watercolour and the density of oil paint.
Jatayus