Kalanjay Dhir

 

Planetary Anti-Ageing Method #1 (PAAM-1)

Kalanjay Dhir, ‘Planetary Anti­-Ageing Method #1 (PAAM­1)’ 2018 [details]. Refurbished engine crane, sandstone from my grandparent’s garden, 5” monitor, Raspberry Pi, Single ­channel video installation, 1:00, 2500 x 2500 x 1000mm. Photographed by Nolan Murphy, courtesy of Kudos Gallery.

In the Ramayana, there is a famous scene where an ape engineer named Nala discovers that writing Lord Rama’s name onto stones enables them to float. In this manner, a bridge was constructed to the ancient city of Lanka where Lord Rama waged war on the personification of evil, Ravana.

Today, there is a limestone shoal that connects the coast of Tamil Nadu to Pamban Island. This shoal is known as Adam’s Bridge or Rama Setu. The geological origin of this rocky formation are still contested.

Kalanjay Dhir, ‘Planetary Anti­-Ageing Method #1 (PAAM­1)’ 2018 [details]. Refurbished engine crane, sandstone from my grandparent’s garden, 5” monitor, Raspberry Pi, Single ­channel video installation, 1:00, 2500 x 2500 x 1000mm. Photographed by Nolan Murphy, courtesy of Kudos Gallery.

Planetary Anti-Ageing Method #1 (PAAM-1), takes an ad-hoc approach to adopting mythological technology in response to contemporary issues. For example, if the mechanism behind Rama Setu could be applied to larger land masses one could avoid the problems of rising sea levels.

On the sandstone interface a series of fabricated instagram stories from 8.76e+11 hours ago. They detail the artist learning to write the holy avatar’s name in Sanskrit, राम from his grandmother. There is also a story of the artist and his grandfather laughing into the world in the manner of Indian laughing clubs.

Kalanjay Dhir, ‘Planetary Anti­-Ageing Method #1 (PAAM­1)’ 2018. Refurbished engine crane, sandstone from my grandparent’s garden, 5” monitor, Raspberry Pi, Single ­channel video installation, 1:00, 2500 x 2500 x 1000mm. Photographed by Nolan Murphy, courtesy of Kudos Gallery.

Kalanjay Dhir (b. 1995) is an artist, musician and failed viral content creator exploring near-futurism, pan-Asian spirituality, acceleration in popular culture, and mythological technologies. Primarily working through sculpture and video, Kalanjay meshes repurposed commercial and industrial objects with user-end technologies, found minerals and narrative. 

Kalanjay is currently working out of Parramatta Artists Studios. In 2019 he is working collectively to set up Pari, a grassroots arts space for Western Sydney. Kalanjay is also developing new work for a solo show at Peacock Gallery and Next Wave Festival 2020. Alongside frequent collaborator DJ Atro, Kal hosts FBi Radio’s Wednesday Sunset show.  In his spare time he likes to read Wikipedia and manga, make memes and drink Milo.

 

Tanushri Saha

Author: Tanushri Saha

Tanushri Saha is a writer and visual artist based in Sydney. Her practice explores science fiction, futurism, ecologies, and questions of decolonisation. Tanushri holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Cultural Studies, and is currently undertaking a Master of Design at the University of Sydney. Her work has appeared in Pencilled In, Hermes, Melbourne Art Week, Verge Gallery, and Women of Color in Solidarity (NY).

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