Paradigm Shift: A new platform of expression for local makers in Dharavi

Right in the heart of Mumbai city is a gold mine of talent. Amsterdam based visual artist Jorge Manes Rubio and art historian and critic Amanda Pinatih along with advisors Matias Echanove and Rahul Srivastava of URBZ, are exploring the hamlet with Dharavi Design Museum, an initiative and experiment to understand how design can be socially impactful and relevant.

“We wanted to envision a different public institution as a mobile structure to engage with more communities. We can travel through the neighbourhoods instead of them coming to us,” explains Amanda about the nomadic display. Their inaugural exhibit in February featured objects by potters, broom makers and others, all reinvented – like clay matkas – reimagined as vibrant water containers.

The aim is to expel general public’s negative perception about the area, while at the same time help local artisans gain more confidence in their art by digressing from age old, repetitive designs. Currently, the team is looking for ways to make this project sustainable, while continuing to remain independent.

Website: www.designmuseumdharavi.org

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