Beauty of Innocence (The Bazaar Walk)

The Bazaar Walk, on the footpath of Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, May 23rd, 2014

"We may cherish every moment with each countless blooms of happiness of Nature…enter the cosmos of light enter in deep trance and I think this what bliss might mean and innocence of life mean."

The third intervention was in front of famous Bull Temple footpath, which is also a tourist spot, people around there made a mixed crowd, locals and tourists together. Metaphorically it was to connect the culture and beauty of the space, the flower market, and the vibrant color of Kumkum, the smell of flowers and essence of traditional area. Every time I pass by the Gandhi Bazaar market I sense a new life within me.

This performance was meant to highlight the charm of Gandhi Bazaar, which was an element of inspiration for this performance. The flower is very essential part of our culture and customs of the area. This event was also to metaphorically connect to the pure quality of flowers with the innocence of young children; it is basically to cherish the charm of innocence both in human and plant form. The presence of flowers, the life they symbolize, vibrant colors, and the fragrances bring out the best in life and celebrate beauty in all its glory. At another level it also connects to poets of the place and their poetry, how their poetry spread like fragrance through communities. Although a flower’s life span is short, it enhances our life with happiness. I dressed up with my hair in long plaits which I could adorn with wonderful flowers. I intentionally used elongated plaits to metaphorically show the extension of the celebration of happiness as well as innocence, and usually we exaggerate things when we celebrate. I distributed paper fans which had images of flower sellers and flowers.

My personal making of paper fans involved a ritualistic act of involving myself in an unselfish act of innocence over the period of a week. I could see the effect that the process had on me when I observed the photographs of the performance later. Next day my happiness reflected on my face during the performance. It is a personal journey to go within and search for those emotions and also reconnect to your childhood days. The Bull Temple was my favorite spot during my childhood days when I used to visit with my cousin sister to play in Bugle Rock; it was like revisiting the time again.

Every time I pass by the Gandhibazaar market I sense a new life within me. This performance is basically to highlight the charm of Gandhibazaar, and became an element of inspiration for this performance work. This performance will metaphor-ically connect to innocence quality of flower with young children, it is basically to cherish the beauty of innocence both in human and plant form.

The presence of flowers, The Life, Vibrant Colors, The Fragrances brings the life to its best form and celebrate the beauty in all its forms and at another level it also connects to poets, how their poetry spreads like fragrances of life. Although flower’s life span is short, they enchant our life with happiness. The small wind fan as a messenger…spreads the essence in the air. The red attire is to celebrate the life and warmness. The long hair plaits is extension of happiness and celebration.

Dimple B Shah

2014