Vanishing Prior To Disappearance
In the heart of the Himalayas, nestled amidst the Kumaon Hills, lies the picturesque village of Peora, India. This remote and breathtaking location serves as the backdrop for a poignant photography series by Abhishek Khedekar, a renowned photographer known for his deeply personal work.
Khedekar's project, titled "Before it Fades," focuses on the dwindling Aipan tradition, a form of traditional folk art that is an intricate wall and floor art painted during auspicious occasions mainly in parts of India like Maharashtra. The series aims to capture the cultural and social realities of Peora as well as the fading practices of Aipan, which are created using brick-red drawings made with rice paste.
The Aipan designs, a significant part of Peora's cultural identity, are slowly disappearing due to people moving away from the village and the influence of modernization. Khedekar's work serves not only as a visual record but also as a form of cultural preservation, raising awareness about the Aipan tradition's decline and its emotional and communal significance in Peora.
The series has been featured in an alumni takeover post by the National Institute of Design (NID) Photography and Design Instagram account, where Khedekar shared insights and images from this project. Such projects typically help attract attention from cultural activists, policymakers, or art preservationists, potentially fostering initiatives to revive or support endangered traditions.
Peora's landscape is a stark contrast to Khedekar's home, with houses characterised by red patterns and the possibility of getting lost while navigating the hills. Despite the geographical complications, the village has a charm that Khedekar finds familiar and beguiling. Inside the houses, there is an old television and an old photograph, remnants of a bygone era.
The village is home to Priti, a woman who moved from Mumbai to Peora 25 years ago and built Spacehouse Himalayas, a place for artists to work and create. The Peora school is located near a shop where tea can be had, and dogs are present, guiding the photographer to a familiar house.
However, life in Peora is not without its challenges. Rain frequently impedes travel in the Peora hills, and the geographical complications make it difficult to grow anything. Despite these hardships, the village continues to hold a special place in Khedekar's heart, and his photography series serves as a testament to the beauty and resilience of this remote community.
The photography series, "Before it Fades," by Abhishek Khedekar, showcases the dwindling Aipan tradition, a prominent art form in Peora, as a means of cultural preservation and awareness, collaborating with other art and design aficionados to potentially stimulate initiatives for its revival. The magazine feature of Khedekar's project in the National Institute of Design (NID) Photography and Design Instagram account highlighting the Aipan tradition's emotional and communal significance in Peora contributes significantly to the community's lifestyle and travel narratives.
