Winter Root Vegetable Roast / July 4, 2014 by Bindaas

This week's curry paste has emerged from 2 months of experience of tending to the Kiwi customer. Cooked with many South Pacific ingredients such as Fijian ginger and turmeric, cilantro grown in NZ, and local garlic from Whaingaroa. The curry paste carries the perfume of this hemisphere. As well, the paste has gotten complex, owing to its original recipe from Sholapur, used with the dry spices ground there. As well as my experimentations with the paste itself. Like using it for a local root vegetable roast.

Kala Masala, will be sold on July 8th Tuesday at WOK's. That day the tithi will be Dasami. The Chandra Kala influences this day. This 10th phase of the waning moon is ruled by Dharma. It is a Poorna Tithi and good for completing any work. Good for acts of virtue, religious functions, spiritual practices, and other pious activities, entering a home, to start important businesses, wedding, wearing jewels, journeys, activities, related to transportation, vehicles, houses and meeting important.

Shukla Dashami is the name for the 10th Tithi (lunar day). It's nature is Saumya Prada, which can be interpreted as "soberness and clearness increase", "one that leads to placid state, state of happiness". Also Nāgas rule the 10th Tithi, thus Shukla Dashami also is auspicious period for gaining wisdom, secret knowledge.

Nāgas also are related rebirth, administering medicine, the purging of poisons, and surgery, as well as waters (rivers, lakes, seas, and wells) and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure people.

So if you cook the paste that night, its energies are infused with this sense of renewal, as Dharma, also known a Yama -God of Death, will allow for the rebirth of postive energies of the spices in your body.

Remember, we are in Shukla Paksha, the waxing face of the moon. The moon is giving us energy, and helping all things grow if they choose to.

RECIPE

The curry paste can be used for Vegetarian or Non Vegetarian Dished.

For the Bake, I will be providing the Non-Vegetarian Recipe, you can adapt it to your needs however you like.

INGREDIENTS

3 Lamb Shanks

1 Parsnip

1 Carrot

1 Butternut Squash

1 Kumara

1 Potato

1 Large Onion

5 Jeruselam Artichoke

4 Cloves of Garlic WHOLE with covering.

1 Bay Leaf

1 Stick of Rosemary

1 Tomato

1 Stick of Parsley or Celery

1 Mandarin or Orange

1 Lime or Lemon

Before you start cooking, marinate the lamb-shanks with 2 tablespoon of curry paste and some lemon for 20 mins.

Step 1: Chop all ingredients

Step 2: Add 4 large teaspoon heaps of the the curry paste and mix the vegetables with it.Except for the onions, tomatoes, celery, orange and lemon.

Step 3: Place the onions and vegetables and meet on the pan. Slice tomatoes and the lemon in thin circles and place on top for grilling.

Step 4: Heat the oven to 300 degrees.

Step 5: Sprinkle some parsely/celery, squeeze the orange juice all over the dish, place the bay leaf and rosemary and whole garlic cloves and cover.

Step 6: Bake for an hour, remove covering and grill for 5 minutes.

Serve this wintery goodness loaded with spices and local nutrition

The Story of Neelima's Kitchen Limited Artisan Curry Paste / July 2, 2014 by Bindaas

Beads on a String

Pramila Madhukar Girme, my maternal grandmother lived in the village of Malinagar. She was 18 when she gave birth to my mother. Neelima Uday Borawake was 32 when she gave birth to me, Shraddha Borawake. 1933 - 1951 -1983 was the generational gap that strung together 3 beads ; grandmother, daughter and grand-daughter. The female energies progressing, autonomously streaming live information through its mitochondria as the cycle of time continues to pass.

Mitochondrial Eve

Pramila was well known in her community for her culinary skills, infact, inspite of being born and raised in extremely conventional upbringing, as a house wife first and mother second. Yet progressively she became an earning member of her family through her home kitchen. Which was famous, her people were loyal, and her quality was excellent and the practice sustained for 50 odd years. Even for the trappings of such a conservative society of the Mali community, she was independent, dedicated and managed to balance many things to be a success at her passion : Food and Feeding for many moons.

The Oxymoron of Liberation

She had trained my mother, Neelima early on in her life. Perhaps, one of those contradictory actions, where on one hand a conservative thought such as : She as a girl must know her way around in the kitchen so she can feed her family in the future. And another thought : Maybe this skill of culinary business can help her be independent one day. Since they were only 18 years apart, the culture of cooking got passed down and the liberation from generalised as well as genuine trappings of a Maharashtrian woman took a small leap with my mothers generation. Small leap because, (traditional Maharashtrian society IS AND HAS BEEN extremely forward in its thought, many revolutions social, artistic and spiritual have happen in the early ages of evolution) society was changing at a lot less rapidly.

The Giant Leap

The pre teen generation grew up in the the cusp of end of post colonial hangover and begining of globalisation in the early 90's. In this somewhere, my generation has lost track of ancient knowledge. Therefore inspired by this call for attention to Indian identity, the project explores through food and preparation, quality control, daily practices of awareness and consciousness via reference to Hindu mythology and religion an array of edible products and recipes that I have known.

Now, in 2014 we are in the Glocal Local Global Technological Confused Hyper informed Citizen Era; it is time to address roots and be extremely vested in the authentic information gained and carried forward. As an Maharashtrian from the Mali community, my biggest fear is that, I might become a missing link in the passing of information down from my foremothers to the children of the next generation. That information, is temporally and culturally far away, it is scattered everywhere and though it still flows through my veins and cells (since we are looking at the matriarchal link).Some roots have been sacrificed for the sake of growth/progression/ moving forward in the world. Many rituals :- organic, cyclical, in sync with the moon, veneration, prayer and duty were performed every single day by women back in the day, were considered by some, as a trapping. I am now seeking those very same archaic means in the midst of trappings of modernity :- Dependency on material objects, capitalistic thought, image consciousness and the pressure to perform and present impressively for Social Media .

Mitchondria

In the quest of roots, one must turn to the mother for all questions regarding origins. All mammals posses a DNA called Mitochondria in their cells, they are the power producers for the cell. They are normally inherited exclusively from the mother; the mitochondria in sperm are usually destroyed by the egg cell after fertilization. DNA is maternally inherited, and gets passed down through women as an unbroken cell link. The female is always directly connected to one another female, at any given time of time or space. Hindu philosophy has a spicier version of this truth, and her name is Lalita Tripura Sundari and she is the Ultimate Mother, the Bindu in the Mandala. Her Nitya's follow the journey of the moon, and their worship is performed for 16 days of every waxing moon. Neelima is the owner of Ku Kooch Ku, a 35 year old establishment with a loyal and vast following all over Maharashtra. Growing up on the farm where her central kitchen is has been a blessing in seeing her take forward what her mother gave her retaining the same honesty to taste and consistent quality to customer.

Repository of Information and the Medium of Memory

Neelima's Kitchen Limited Curry Paste is part of the project Daughter's of the Solstice, where I use the distance between my mother and grandmother (1933 -2013) to seek and call knowledge and cultural observances through creativity in the kitchen, rituals and access to genetic information via spices and cooking from 2 well renowned chefs.

Neelima's Kitchen Limited Curry Paste are different every week. There are various methods and numerous spices. Used in specific combinations, dry roasted, fried with fresh coriander or infused with South Pacific elements such as fresh Fijian Ginger and Tumeric or sweetened with boiled onions, to make a limited paste that will probably never be recreated the same way. Each week, the curries will follow or combat the energies depending on the astronomical environment.

Mitochondrial Eve and Search for Lalita / June 30, 2014 by Bindaas

POST MATARIKI

Spices and the Lunar Tide : - TO THE MOTHERS / June 26, 2014 by Bindaas

हल्दी

डोटर्सज़ ऑफ द सॉल्स्टास

ऑफ़ द सोल

Monsoon Curry with Sattvic Perfume / June 25, 2014 by Bindaas

Above are main ingredients

If possible you can add

5 curry leaves
1 spoon Tamarind Paste

HIGH HEAT

Heat 2 Heafty Tablespoons of Ghee/Oil of Anychoice exept Olive Oil and Coconut Oil - Preferably Canola, Sunflower or Vegetable oil. Let it get really hot, and then fry Curry leaves, garlic and dried red chilly for 3 minutes. Stir, and keep children away from the vicinity, as the ingredients may splutter far!!

In the same hot passionate concoction, fry the tomatoes, stir occasionally. 2 minutes
The oil starts becoming unmanageable. At this point, add onions and let them soak the oil. Here is a good time to add salt, be generous. As this is the base of your dish, and it must be full bodied when infusing the rest of the items to complete a satisfying taste.

Mix the onions well in the oil for the last 2 minutes on high heat. This helps the oil to completely infuse and integrate into the taste we are looking for. Little divine elements of every ingredient is now forming, the heat of the chillies, the sourness of the tomatoes, the pungent flavour of the garlic and the peace and sweetness of the onions are a very important journey on the high heat road of transference.

Sattvic Perfume

Now add 4 generous tablespoon heaps of this weeks curry paste. Made in collaboration with Carolyna Meade.
Mix one last time.

Medium Heat

Add 3 cups of water and let all of this come to a boil.

At this point, add 1 teaspoon of tamarind paste, diluted in 1 cup of warm water.

Let it boil for 10 minutes.

If you are cooking tofu or fish. You can add this in the last 5 minutes of cooking.

LOW FLAME

If you are cooking potato, kumara, tempeh or any other vegetable that takes long. Then cook this mixture for 5 to 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat, and add 80 ML or 1/3rd cup of coconut milk.

When done, either eat with rice or Danny's Wholegrain Pita that I have discovered at John Wok, its in the freezer at the back where the blueberries are!!!

Enjoy Neelima's Kitchen | Limited Artisan Curry Paste.

Love from the fragrant kitchens of Whaingaroa

Daughters of the Solstice / June 23, 2014 by Bindaas

Recipe / June 18, 2014 by Bindaas

“Tripura’s themes are religious devotion, forgiveness, relationships, kindness, truth, spirituality, patience and restoration. Her symbols are gold, silver and iron. In Jainism Tripura is the great mother who lives in three metallic cities (gold, silver, iron) that represent the heavens, the air, and the earth (or body, mind, and spirit). She unites these three powers within us for well-balanced spiritual living that reflects good morals and proper action.

“Tripurasundarĩ (‘Beautiful (Goddess) of the Three Cities’) or Mahã-Tripurasundarĩ (‘Great Beautiful (Goddess) of the Three Cities’), also called Ṣoḍaśĩ (“Sixteen”), Lalitã (‘She Who Plays’) and Rãjarãjeśvarĩ (‘Queen of Queens, Supreme Ruler’), is one of the group of ten Goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called Mahavidyas

This week 9 curry pastes were made in 3 variations. Hot, Medium and Soft for the varying in Spiciness.

RECIPE

Ingredients to Serve 4 people

Main Ingredient for this paste could vary from chickpeas, potatoes, cauliflower or fish

2 Cups Main Ingredient

2 Medium Onions

1 Bunch Coriander/Cilantro

1 Table Spoon Butter/Canola Oil/Ghee

½ Can of Coconut Milk

Salt

Pepper

1 Bottle Curry Paste

Method

Medium to High Flame

Heat the butter till it melts\ oil and add onions, 3 pinches of salt and sauté till onions become a little transparent. 5 minutes, keep stirring. Then add the entire bottle of Curry Paste.

Medium Flame

Mix and stir till all the paste is completely integrated into the onions and tomatoes. Then add the main ingredient and mix for 1 minute. Add 1 full cup of water and one teaspoon of salt to the entire mixture and cover the pot. Boil

High Flame

And cook for 10 minutes

Low Flame

Open the pot and mix to make sure that the main ingredient is getting cooked. Depending on how you prefer the consistency of the curry, you can cook on low flame for another 10 minutes if it is a though ingredient like potato or chickpea. Pour the coconut milk and stir for not more than 3 minutes. Serve with chopped coriander sprinkled for garnish.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Lord Shiva annihilating Skanda, the messenger of love.

Read full tale here

http://murugan.org/research/kannan2009.htm

Tithi : - Shasthi

The Moon has 16 kalas, or phases. Out of these 15 are visible to us and the 16th is beyond our visibility. The 16 kalas are: 1.Amrita, 2.Manada, 3.Poosha, 4.Tusthi, 5.Pusthi, 6.Rati, 7.Dhruti, 8.Sasichini, 9.Chandrika, 10.Kanta, 11.Jyostna, 12.Shree, 13.Preeti, 14.Angada, 15.Poorna and 16.Poornamruta.

These 16 kalas are ruled by the 16 Nitya Devis. They are called Shodasa Nityas. They are: 1.Maha Tripura Sundari, 2.Kameswari, 3.Bhagamalini, 4.Nityaklinna, 5.Bherunda, 6.Vanhivasini, 7.Maha Vajreswari, 8.Shivadooti (Roudri), 9.Twarita, 10.Kulasundari, 11.Nitya, 12.Neelapataka, 13.Vijaya, 14.Sarvamangala, 15.Jwalamalini and 16.Chidroopa (Chitra). Out of these, the first one, Maha Tripura Sundari is the Devi Para Shakti herself, and hence the kala ruled by her is not visible to the normal mortals. Hence we see only the other 15 kalas or phases ruled by the other Nityas. In the Sri Chakra these 15 nityas are present in the innermost circle, and the Devi is in the central Bindu.

Kali Mirri | Shakti Swaroop / May 29, 2014 by Bindaas

NEELIMA'S KITCHEN

LIMITED ARTISAN CURRY PASTE

KALI MIRRI | SHAKTI SWAROOP

TIME & INTENTION

23^rd May 10:07:45 this week's curry paste was conceptualised during the cusp of Navami and Dashami, overshadowed by the blessings of Goddess Ambika.

Goddess Ambika is associated with the central figure of the Shakti cult. Ambika represents the placid aspects of goddess Durga.The most common iconographies of Ambika represent the goddess either with two hands or with four hands and others with more. But the most important aspect of all the images is to represent the Motherliness of the Goddess. Her head is decorated with rubies and her crown is adorned with the moon. She bears a smiling face and her bosoms are full. Her face is benign.

While making the paste, the nature of the energies were shifting from - conducive for acts of destruction and killing enemies- Navami to acts of virtue, religious function, spiritual practices and other pious activities - Dashami. As the further waning moon was swinging its intentions past 10 am on Friday on 33 Upper Wainui Road, during the trial and tasting of Kali Mirri | Shakti Swaroop.

INGREDIENT OF THE WEEK

KALI MIRRI - black pepper is renowned for its medicinal properties. It aids in the destruction of small parasitic worms that enter our body through the air, food, fingers and many other daily activities, which can easily cause contamination. There are many more known benefits of this little black ball, which oust the little bugs and virus' that cause minor physical and mental imbalances.

As the black pepper is ground with the mortar and pestle, the peppercorns crack open activating their warrior path that will start in the digestive track. Aware of the advent of Dashami the powder is carefully transferred into the onion mix to camouflage the little soldiers, who will enter the system in the disguise of spicy flavours that excite the tastebuds. The ritual of preparing this paste is performed with the intention to capture that fierce energy of Ambika, the powerful Mother who can fight any force to defend her own. In the case of the Kali Mirri Curry Paste - it is made with the intention for the black pepper to literally take her form thus the term SHAKTI SWAROOP - Manifesting the form of the Shakti- Primordial Cosmic Female Energy.

It is an opportunity to give thanks to the mother for endowing nature with such antiseptics.

How to use the Kali Mirri Curry Paste

Serves 4 - 5 People

Ingredients

1 Spoon Canola Oil or butter

2 Cups Dal

2 Medium Onions

1 Cup Pumpkin chopped

1 Green Zucchini cut into thin slices

1 Medium Tomato

1 Bunch Coriander/Cilantro

1 Table Spoon Butter

Salt

1 bottle of Kali Mirri Curry Paste

Method

Medium to High Flame

Heat the oil till it melts and add onions and sauté till onions become a little transparent. 5 minutes, keep stirring. Then add tomatoes and the entire bottle of Kali Mirri Curry Paste.

Medium Flame

Mix and stir till all the paste is completely integrated into the onions and tomatoes for 1 minute. Then add the dal, pumpkin and zucchini, mix for 1 minute. Add 4 full cups of water and one teaspoon of salt to the entire mixture and cover the pot.

High Flame

And cook for 10 minutes

Low Flame

Open the pot and mix to make sure that the dal is getting soft. Depending on how you prefer the consistency of the dal, you can cook on low flame for another 10 minutes (which I highly recommend). Mash the entire mix to break the pumpkin pieces with a masher.

Once the curry is ready garnish with plenty of chopped cilantro, some pepper and a little sprinkle of lemon and serve. The same can be done with fish, chickpeas, kumara and potato.

27th May, Tuesday

Today Kali rules the house, her energies are fierce, therefore to balance the heat of the peppers, some coconut is added to the paste, as a peace offering to Ma, Kali Ma Mother.

If you learn to love the Devi- Mother Goddess unconditionally, however harsh her fury is, or ugly her persona may be in these destructive phases of the waning moon. Life will flow smoothly, as the Mother will be pleased with your unwavering faith and devotion, even though her force is what makes this universe and continue in form. She is fragile, she wants love and only love and will reciprocate it by showering you with a good life. Since it is from and through Her that all sources of life are born, journey and die, including the curry leave, onions, garlic, peppers, coconut, ghee, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, salt and water. Which are the essential ingredients that will take a cleansing sojourn in your body.

Tomorrow night the 28th of May 2014 is New Moon or Amavasya, be sure to remember your ancestors and pay homage to their souls no matter where they are in this time of rejuvenation. As the channels are opening to be more kind to us and our bodies. Let us remember those wombs that have gone through much strife and pain to birth us and all that we enjoy in this world.

NEELIMA’S KITCHEN LIMITED ARTISAN CURRY PASTE IS NOT A PRODUCT.

IT IS THE SHARING OF SPIRITUAL INFORMATION BETWEEN 3 WOMEN

Available on Tuesdays at John Wok (Whaingaroa Organic Kai) Downtown Raglan, New Zealand

Neelima’s Kitchen : The Journey Begins / May 22, 2014 by Bindaas

Kala Masala | Daughters of the Solstice

Limited Artisan Curry Pastes

“Ayana” – Belonging to the Solstice

According to the Drik Panchang - Hindu Vedic Calender - today is Uttarayana, meaning the position of the tropical sun is in the midway point between the Spring Equinox and Winter equinox. This celestial point in the Drikpanchang for Waikato region and timing is specifically in relation to the activity of the Sun north of the equator today, it is Shashthi Tithi – In vedic timekeeping, a Tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours.

For us today in the Waikato region, the influence of the tropical Sun from the North brings fragrances from the motherland of India, that is where my ancestors have written stories in the soil. And through my blood and soul they speak everyday, carrying information forward. That is the specific legacies, rituals of our tribe Mali. Their origins are unknown. It is a relatively undocumented small and ancient community of farmers, who have been last recorded in Western region of Rajasthan in the late 1800’s.

Women would carry the typical marking for this tribe - a line of red vermillion across the forehead. Since they would be in the fields all day, the line is strategically placed on the third eye, blocking it from the harsh rays of the sun.

Alas, those days are long gone where young women of such rich heritage proudly adorn these marks. Modernization has slowly but surely been erasing reminisces of such antiquity, as the female has progressed. It is in light of these kinds of great losses of identity and information that the curry pastes have emerged. An artist’s attempt at studying, calling, experiencing and sharing information through time immaterial of a small slice of history, carried forward through culinary sleight of hand in Raglan, New Zealand.

Neelima’s Kitchen is a three channel matriarchal exchange between my grandmother Pramila Madhukar Girme (19^th Apri 1933 – 23^rd March 2013) and her daughter Neelima Borawake and me – the Artist via the medium of one time created curry pastes, which infuse ingredients of lunar/cultural/personal/spiritual significances passed down from 3 generations in Maharashtra, India.

NEELIMA’S KITCHEN LIMITED ARTISAN CURRY PASTE IS NOT A PRODUCT.

IT IS THE SHARING OF SPIRITUAL INFORMATION BETWEEN 3 WOMEN

My grandmother, Pramila was a lean, intelligent passionate woman, she was married to my grandfather when she was 16 and gave birth to my mother when she was 18 years old. And this bond continued as I saw the world through my mother’s arms when she was 32 years old. Ofcourse Kala Masala would be the first masala I used as Pramila's method was famous and many people in the community would order from her regurlarly.

Batch 1

Kala Masala | Daughters of the Solstice

Limited Artisan Curry Paste

How to use the Kala Masala Curry Paste

Ingredients

2 Cups Chickpeas : Soaked overnight

2 Medium Onions

1 Medium Tomato

1 Bunch Coriander/Cilantro

1 Table Spoon Butter

Salt

Pepper

1 Baby bottle of Kala Masala Curry Paste

Method

Medium to High Flame

Heat the butter till it melts and add onions, 3 pinches of salt and sauté till onions become a little transparent. 5 minutes, keep stirring. Then add tomatoes and the entire baby bottle of Kala Masala Curry Paste.

Medium Flame

Mix and stir till all the paste is completely integrated into the onions and tomatoes. Then add the chickpeas, mix for 1 minute. Add 4 full cups of water and one teaspoon of salt to the entire mixture and cover the pot.

High Flame

And cook for 10 minutes

Low Flame

Open the pot and mix to make sure that the chickpeas are getting soft. Depending on how you prefer the consistency of the chickpea curry, you can cook on low flame for another 10 minutes (which I highly recommend)

Once the curry is ready garnish with plenty of chopped cilantro, some pepper and a little sprinkle of lemon and serve.

Concept and Preparation of the Artisan Curry Paste

Nityas and Tithis

This project explores the primordial female cosmic energy -Shakti through autonomy of the spirit via the channel of progeny during which the daily study and meditation of the Drikpanchang is a part of the ritual.

Through the preparation of the curry pastes I am exploring this matriarchal string, as I consult the calendar everyday. It allows me to finely tune into the shifting energies and tap into transcendental philosophies, while gathering materials for my pastes. As I pull information from my cells and my soul in the kitchen, a talent that my mother has gifted me and one, which we have acquired from my grandmother, I follow the moon to lead the path. The 3 of us are in disparate spheres of existence, yet we are bound through our spices, our special talent for cooking, our individual orbits (including those of giving birth, life, death, past lives and karmas), and through the large volumes of people that we are famously known to feed for generations.

Pramila's Kitchen - Malinagar, Sholapur District, Maharashtra

Raglan, Waikato, New Zealand

***May 19^th | The Preparation Environment

The kitchen was being prepared on Upper Wainui road by Jasper - a kind Dutch who spontaneously decided to scrub down every surface with great vigor,

19:01:54 hrs the Titihi was changing

from

Panchami-(Ruled by the Serepent, a good day for purging of poisons)

And thus auspicious for cleaning.

Shasthi (Favourable for coronations, meeting new friends, festivities, and enjoyment)

Upon this auspicious change of lunar tide the onions were chopped in a cleansed environment and the first batch of artisan curry paste was made with a unique Kala masala powder indigenous to the Maharashtra cuisine eaten in the Mid-Western part of India. The bottles of paste were ready. We cooked it some of it for trial, and had a huge feast in the silver light of the waning moon.

May 20^th 3:40pm to 5:00pm | At John Wok’s Organic Retail
For Sale 4 Portions of Kala Masala | Daughter's of Solstice Paste
@ 8 NZD per bottle

Today the period of Shasthi will end at 16:27:41 hrs in Ralgan leading us into Saptami – The 7^th Lunar day ruled by the Sun in the tropics, the calendar says, a good time to begin a journey. And I reckon a culinary one.

*** When To Cook

Kala Masala | Daughters of Solstice was prepared at an auspicious time. It was the beginning of Shashthi tithi after the cleansing of the kitchen during Panchami. Therefore this week’s paste ; created with spices brought from India will bring coronations, meeting of new friends, festivities, and enjoyment. So be sure to call a good friend over for that meal. As well, be aware of the sun’s strong influence from the Northern hemisphere coming through your window, and how it is delicately balancing the darkness of the waning moon, as the spices sizzle in your home during this period of Uttarayana

Shashthi or Shashti (Sanskrit: षष्ठी, Ṣaṣṭhī, literally "sixth") is also a Hindu folk goddess, venerated as the benefactor and protector of children. She is also the deity of vegetation and reproduction and is believed to bestow children and assist during childbirth. She is often pictured as a motherly figure, riding a cat and nursing one or more infants. The worship of Shashthi is proscribed to occur on the sixth day of each lunar month of the Hindu calendar

Until next week and next batch of stories and explorations.

Exposéfy – Not_UB_1228, 1486 & 1853 / July 27, 2013 by Bindaas

What makes a photograph perfect? Can the changing perspective of the photographer add meaning in a way a single photograph cannot? Does the varied focus disrupt the integral harmony/disharmony of the image? How do the feet, finger, mind, mood or every fleeting instance alter the outcome of a single frame captured in time and space?

Pakhadofying

The image-maker engages so many permutations and combinations to finally end up with one outstanding frame - the ‘money shot’, like I did to make UB 1228, UB 1486 and UB 1853. I am unable to share/exhibit these by law because I have signed off my rights to those images (for a minuscule sum), but what remains in my possession is the journey taken to attain those winning money-fetching shots. The many parts of a un-viewable whole.

Zhatkofying

In this exposé of process and position, the colors highlight the subject in motion within the frame as well as the relative perspective of the frame in motion.

Exposéfy – Not_UB_1228, 1486 & 1853 is a documentation of quotidian activities that the modern woman is continually becoming unaccustomed to in changing India. This installation of consecutive frames is a memory game of continuity in content as well as form.

Bharofying

Each series is presented in the order they were shot. The sequence of action in these processes are vital parts of the image documented. And the installation as a whole is a present participle. These activities photographed in the rural areas of Maharashtra, and are specific to their region, thus their authentic Marathi names with a modern twang is an accurate representation of this project. I the modern woman is classifying this image/series of actions/culture on the verge of antiquity. Therefore, Pakhadofying, Zhatkofying, Bharofying, and Dhaarkadofying are the names of the individual series.

Dhaarkadofying

Your last wish... / July 14, 2013 by Bindaas

Bushan....sorry this is a little late...too late....

2 promises....Neelima was supposed to feed you her biryani and I was supposed to share these photos of our wonderful shoot together.

So here they are

I have learnt that life is more fragile than you know....

Visions of you placing rice grains with a tweeser will forever be imprinted in my mind....

Today your life is valued at the immense effort and contributions you have made through your work...

And just so you know, your efforts were never wasted, you perfectionist....

You will always be a part of the Ku Kooch Ku team.....

And I hope that you see the results of your hard work through some ethereal means....my friend

May your Soul Rest in Peace

Ironic daze... / July 13, 2013 by Bindaas

Contemplations on the borrowed dreams of lack and loss... vacuums and vortexes... unsaid words... misunderstood concepts .... lost connections ... mispronounced expression ... unreceived mails ..... and death of joy. On very ironic days.... such as today.

Gallatin Hollywood Fringe Festival / June 8, 2013 by Bindaas

Conversation Pieces will be performed again, this time with Nene as a live dancer, as Eriko cannot make it!!!

We need as much support as possible!

CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1726812031/conversation-pieces-goes-to-hollywood

Emu's stare.... / June 2, 2013 by Bindaas

Who's Positive..... / May 11, 2013 by Bindaas

Bob Marley chillin over photographers at the exhibition of Who's Positive? at

The High Spirits

, Pune.

JUGAAD

....

Who’s Positive?

is a project initiated by Wake Up Pune and funded by Ruby Hall Clinic, in collaboration with Sahara Aalhad and artist Shraddha Borawake. The participants of the workshop were a mixture of people living with HIV/AIDS as well as their care-workers and other volunteers.

Poster design by Waylon D'Mello

On the first of the 2 daylong sessions, the participants were asked to photograph their fears. These images were put into outlines of 2 bodies.

Like, fear of snakes...

Or the image of finding your dead brothers body in a train accident many years ago imprinted in your mind!!!

On day 2 the same was done with images of hope. There were many volunteers who helped all the participants realise an image of a phrase in their mind.

"Id like to hold my future in my own hands, where I have adopted my own children, work hard and have a family."

"Be free and happy all the time!"

As a result 2 pieces were formulated depicting the difference between a body full of fear and one full of hope.

Wake Up Pune is an NGO dedicated to spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Pictoral body maps are a way through which one is able to depict their latent emotions. Oftentimes emotions that lurk beneath the surface prevent people from confronting their fears and aspirations. This exercise offered them a roadmap to express the tension they either consciously or sub-consciously hold on to.

Sahara Aalhad is a centre for rehabilitation and HIV/AIDS care.

HIV and other life long sexually transmitted disease victims are extremely painful to observe. To be around an idea and concept that it is just one moment, that can turn your life around, it is just one infected needle that can put you in a life full of terminal challenges, it is just one bad decision or lonely night that can make you a victim or perpetrator of contracting or passing on an infection. Being around that kind of impending doom, is only for strong people. And I was eternally impressed by those folk- the care-workers, who work with the infected lot, shunned by society, malnourished, abandoned and ailing individuals, who have a life long path of struggle for their health, physical as well as mental. Therefore, this workshop attempted to divide the two. A positive and negative mind, and the difference between a body full of fear and a body full of hope.

Love yourself, and dont let you body take the brunt EVER of any deep and dark mental wanderings, because, all you have is this body. Once ruined, you cannot turn back time.

3rd April 2013 / April 3, 2013 by Bindaas

Abhishek

When I was commissioned to shoot the executive calender for KSB Pumps, the brief given were an array of words. These words tried to encompass through vast meaning of the essentials of life : Roti, Kapada, Makaan: Food, Clothes and Home:

1) sumptuous
2) nursing mother
3) nurturer
4) birthplace
5) origin - womb
6) mother of plants
7) interdependency between humans
8) attachment
9) passion
10) faith
11) solitary
12) drama
13) fantasy
14) dream
15) myth
16) mythology
17) god
18) goblin
19) fanatics
20) numerous
21) source of all things
22) upholder – sustainer
23) steady one
24) patience
25) perseverance
26) all preserving
27) all protecting
28) treasure trove
29) penniless
30) mood depiction - lack (instead of barren soil)
31) mood depiction- void (instead of barren soil)
32) fade in
33) fade out
34) obvious
35) subtle
36) black
37) white
38) negative space
39) immensity
40) infinitesimal
41) following
42) icons
43) hypnosis
44) intrigue
45) mystery
46) suspense
47) abyss
48) fairytale
49) sponge
50) lust
51) savagery
52) predator
53) prey
54) possibility
55) illusion – its all a dream.

As all collaborative ventures with Revati Dilip Borawake, my cousin, a designer, actor, artist and producer, our project themes always revolve around the essence of the Indian female mind, expressed through the visual and textual medium.

It is not the female mind that we are trying to express, but always, it is the female perspective that all things material are put through deconstruction in our collective work.

As well, on the other hand, we chose the locations of our estranged ancestors, their forgotten culture, as mediums, as subjects. A sense of homage, sadness and lack of belonging to this heritage being the key intention of exploring them through our art.

When we started this project, we left for Rahata, the birthplace of both our fathers, and the childhood home of the Borawake family, when they were together, and happy. A place which flourished like the fertile soil of love between siblings and housed the great workings of Rao Bahadur Narayanrao Borawake, our grandfather.

Keeping the words in mind, this time there was very little talk or direction, expectation or even agenda. We would visit there after the Sai Baba temple at 3 in the morning for prayers, which was previously run by our family and community, now in the hands of some greedy Sindhis. Who have converted Shirdi into the new Disneyland of Religious Tourism. Thereafter, head to a random village nearby and shoot the awakening, as dawn is a very important part of the day, atleast for this project it was.

We were shooting, capturing, keeping the words in mind. This was the first time, since Chotu's death, that I was spending quality time with Revati, and as for my issues with being far away from home, and not being able to address these events earlier, this was a very somber mixture of work, play and family time. As well as much needed closure on the fact that he is actually dead. And she is better. And its a reality to me now. The best way to heal was through our philosophical exploration.

Above: We found a mindblowing idol of Natraja, coming down from the sky, crushing the child-the ego, ever so gently.

The shoot was chill, as the vibe was mellow. We were trying to keep it that way, because, we both were very exhausted by life a little, the world a little, and all matters in between that and the loss of our little 20 year old brother. All we were trying to do, is encompass some deep feelings flowing through us, we also had Smruti Swaroop Puhan, as an assistant, buffer, referee and bodygaurd the whole time.

I even remember exclaiming to her, that this was too easy, there was something about doing this assignment that was very peaceful, and seamless..."where is the storm?" I asked. As usual, as per our great creative connection we would let the project drive the end result. Because, we are farmers after all. We till the soil, sow the seeds, but definitely do not disturb; the outcome to be what it will be.

In this organic act, which was commercial, but not to us. We had a collection of 50 beautiful images. Many of our grandfathers surroundings, our fathers childhood reminiscence, some signifiers of our own lives and mostly records of the beautiful culture that we have inherited. From the perspective of the Indian female, struggling with concepts of modernity.

We decided to convert them all to stark black and white images, but leave yellow and red that was nacent in all the images.

The idea of Abhishek in hindu rituals is a form of bestowing utmost respect on material or physical entities. One of these methods involves putting a sprinkle haldi-turmeric and kumkum-red powder. When one puts this onto a stone, or the forhead of an individual or the feet of a dead body or onto some machinery. It is a way of expressing deepest gratitute and respect towards the material being encountered.

This form of respect was something we were trying to adress throughout the series. As well as applaud our culture for putting faith in something as simple as a rock in worship. As all material is considered a part of the whole. A part of the Mother. We must respect her in her totality as well as in her humble fragments.