PREKSHA R KOTHARI
Mr. Rishi Singhal
preksha_k@nid.edu
This project, inspired by the moon’s connection to human life, explores the ecological and cultural transformations of the Aravali Hills due to industrialization. Through a digital photo series, photobook, and film, it investigates the Anthropocene and how human activity shapes land identity while questioning whether land possesses its own inherent spirit. The work documents industrial developments like granite mining that alter landscapes and influence our perceptions of birthplace and belonging. By considering humans as extensions of the land, where the burial of the body makes us part of the earth the project challenges conventional views of land ownership and geographical labels. It asks whether land can exist independently of human-imposed identifiers. Visualizing personal and communal memories imprinted on the hills, the project invites viewers to reflect on these deep interconnections. Ultimately, it fosters an understanding of how land and people continuously shape each other’s identities through tradition, ritual, and environmental shift.