Graphic Reflections

One wonders if a major reason for world peace was development of the nuclear bomb: more strategic and less a tactical weapon, a deterrent that prevents one nation from attacking another thanks to the MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) doctrine. The ultimate weapon of destruction perhaps ended up becoming the ultimate weapon of peace.

Though most people link explosion of a nuclear bomb to the horrors of Hiroshima, it is interesting to know that about 390 Nuclear Bombs were exploded above the Earth’s ground level between 1951 and 1963 alone—which—some say, exposed the entire population of our world to radioactivity!

We have enough firepower to destroy mother earth several times over. This grapic attempts to portray the same, though in an indirect manner. For the past few decades, the amount spent on weaponisation far outweighs the amount spent on providing food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and education for a majority of the world’s needy population. Man’s most dangerous enemy is Man himself, earth’s most dangerous enemy also seems to be man!

Originally created for a group exhibition of posters titled ‘Invasions’ (held at Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, in May 2003), this, somewhat negative looking graphic attempts to question modernisation. Development today is often confused with modernisation and a western, resource intensive lifestyle does not necessarily raise peoples standard of living. For a country like India to ‘develop’, it is perhaps more important for its people to have clean air to breathe, a healthy living environment, food, clothing and shelter, and access to educational and healthcare facilities than to adopt western style life and give up age-old, simple and sustainable ways of living. A debatable point

A typographical pun on unmarked speed breakers, that are so common on Indian roads. There seems to be no standard for making speed breakers (or speed bumps) in India and a lot of them are constructed at will by colonies, villages, institutions, and even individual houses. Many of these (almost invisible speed breakers) pose danger especially to two wheelers at night and some even surprise people walking on the streets!

This typographical graphic attempts to portray the negative impact corrpution has on the growth of a country. Instances of rampant corruption hindering economic growth / progress / business plans / ambitions are far too many in India and even today, corruption here remains largely unchecked.

This graphic—a reflection on the events that followed September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks—puts terrorism and war on the same plain. Essentially, both result in the loss of innocent lives. (A special thanks to Geeta Krishna for giving me this insight.)

This typographical composition tries to portray the changed Manhattan skyline after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. With the Twin Towers gone, a change in the skyline of world’s financial capital perhaps also symbolised a change in the way the world was to look at terrorism and security. This graphic was originally created on September 13, 2001.

This graphic tries to portray the horror of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Manhattan. It was originally created on September 12, 2001, after watching the terrible event live on CNN.

Based on a famous poster by Pentagram for the Napoli ’99 Foundation, this typographical graphic tries to portray India as a modern, forward looking and varied country, but one whose physical appearance is often overshadowed by the omnipresence of litter and garbage, never allowing the country to ‘shine’.

Based on the Do Not Litter symbol often found on food packaging, this graphic attempts to portray the ‘wastebin-like’ treatment given to India by a majority of its citizens (educated or uneducated), as if the country is a large trash-bin. People littler almost anywhere or everywhere in India; their littering habit perhaps also reflects their lack of interest in the upkeep of their own country….

Some people have expressed their dissatisfaction about this graphic so it must be mentioned that the graphic is about the ‘act’ or ‘ignorance’ of treating India like a wastebin.  Free of litter, with its unparalleled diversity, India could be one of the most beautiful (if not the most beautiful) countries in the world.