A big sculpture in a medieval workshop

(click on images to enlarge)
Hello any one.. Despite everything I am working full speed ahead on my DNA Double Helix God! This first pic shows Aloke Paul, middle, and Gorum, two of the Durga craftsmen that I am working alongside. It is Aloke's workshop, about 6 ft wide and 30ft or more long and dark. These people work in circumstances that feel like they have not changed in a thousand years. Aloke and his family live in this workshop in basic conditions. They cook over an amazing primitive open fire set up half way up the workshop. On my first day I asked where the toilet was which created a ripple of amusement. Since meeting them all I can say is that they are great. Anyhow after a few days of meetings, talks and work on designs and models, and gathering raw materials (through and interpreter) we began the real hands on work a few days ago. Tomorrow (Sun) after work I am invited for dinner; I know chicken was mentioned, really looking forward to it. In this place there is no fridge and there is only one way to keep meat fresh until it is required.

Gorum comes to assist with certain elements of the work - his main speciality is the construction of the skeletal bamboo and rice straw interior of the Durga models. So he was key in the initial stages of building the strands of the Helix shape (see next image). Above we are sitting on the base. It will be completed last - Does any one know a quote from Ghandi about treasuring children? I will be inscribing quotes with those sentiments on the base.

The sculpture will be ten feet high and will be finished with clay and painted. As we work I am getting a great insight into how they construct the Gods for the Pooja (holy festivals) and what all the rituals are. My plan was to utilise the same construction methods but make something totally different and slitghly subversive - I am thankful that Aloke seems to totally get the goals of the project. Although I must say that the work is getting some curious attention from his fellow craftsmen in adjoining workshops.

The next main challenges are.. well you judge.


It has to be made.

After that I plan to get the young people at Loreto Sealdah to make artistic images to decorate the links between the strands of the Helix. Images that tie in with the theme.

I plan to sculpt the clay of the strands into faces of children and children's games.
After the whole thing is sculpted it will then be colourfullypainted.

Then it will go to the Nehru Children's Museum for a number of days and be decorated.

After this the final fling will be to take it to a tributary of the Ganges for a ceremonial immersion (as this is what happens to the Idols). The ones pictured here a fairly small scale and unpainted. When completed they will have black hair and be extremely colourful. The main God is Shiva (I think) with ten arms - nine of them will be finished carrying weapons and the tenth hand gives a blessing!

Oh yea, I forgot one other thing, I am trying to get three white fellas, to help me pull the finished sculpture through a number of street of Kolkata (Calcutta for Rajaphiles) on one of the traditional carts that seem to keep this city running. We will all be wearing 'longies', Aloke is wearing one in the first pic. It is the dress of the labouring classes.

A view from outside my new home for the next lot of weeks. That's my interpreter taking it easy. So for now, Shubar Rattri. (Good night in Bengali)