The Evolution of Life
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A child inserting his head to be photographed.
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The Matsya or Fish Avatara - the infant is initially only able to move its hands and feet.
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The Kurma or Tortoise Avatara - the baby crawls on all its fours.
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The Varaha or Boar Avatara - the baby tries to energetically stand up.
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The Narashimha or Man-Lion Avatara - the baby now stands up and becomes conscious of its actions.
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The Vamana or Dwarf Avatara - the baby is a young child who begins to question and think.
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The Parshurama Avatara - the child now grows up into a youngster.
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The Rama Avatara - adulthood starts setting in.
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The Krishna Avatara - a thoughtful adult emerges.
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The Balarama Avatara - the adult is now wise and experienced.
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The Kalki Avatara – is yet to come and we do not as yet know what lies beyond.
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Overall view of the installation.
This installation, portraying the incarnations of Vishnu in ten avatars, shows the evolution of life forms on this earth. These various avatars also symbolise the triumph of the good over evil and yet at another level, the ten avatars illustrate the various stages of the human in its passage from the infant to the adult. The installation consists of ten panels of increasing heights. There is also an evolution in terms of the illustration styles used, where the first four animal stages are depicted using a style that has just basic lines, while the next five stages use solid colours. And the very last avatar is depicted in a futuristic manner. The various incarnation of Vishnu have been portrayed with a slot left open where one can insert one’s head and get photographed. This way, one can relive the stages of life by crouching to place one’s head in the first stage,to be followed by progressively rising panels.
This installation was first exhibited during the event 'in a planet of our own' held at Mumbai, India in November 2009 at IDC, IIT Bombay and then at Kal Ghoda festival of Arts in February 2010 at kal Ghoda, Mumbai.
