please select "view in a browser" for the best viewing experience :) |
|
|
“Art is not freedom from discipline, but disciplined freedom.”
― John F. Kennedy |
|
|
Hello hello, ! I’m beyond excited to have you here, along with a few other new faces! I’ve been sending out these "Letters from Ness" for almost a year and a half now—crazy, right? Writing to you feels like a mini time capsule, and it’s always such a joy to reflect on my adventures and have you to share them with. |
|
|
Okay so, let’s talk about August. I treated myself to a solo trip, which didn’t go exactly as planned, but turned out to be full of unforgettable experiences. I headed to Delhi, stayed with some relatives, and spent my days exploring the city by myself like a curious tourist. From discovering quirky local spots to trying things that seemed a little “out there” at first, I ended up having the time of my life. |
|
|
The first stop? Brace yourself—a toilet museum. Yep, you read that right. A history about the country’s waste management systems, how the toilets of the world have progressed, where we started and were we ended up. It made me really have new-found appreciation for everything that is available to us today. I found a really sweet tour guide who showed around the place, trying to break the stigma of talking about toilets and essentially “unsanitary” things. This was an important conversation to be a part of and I am so glad that I got to experience it. This was the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets. |
|
|
I ended up sketching my experience at the museum and making notes of the things I learnt and experienced there.You can zoom in and take a look at what I’ve captured, and hopefully you can too feel a bit of the transformation I felt :) |
|
|
One of my trip goals was to visit art galleries or museums and sketch the art, rather than just snapping pictures. So, during my visit to the next museum, I did just that. I left my phone in the lockers, grabbed my little sketchbook and pencil, and wandered through the galleries for two hours, capturing the beauty around me. Without the distraction of a camera, I found myself noticing all the little details I’d usually miss. And guess what? There was even a quiz at the end of the tour. And to my surprise, I had made note of most of the things they asked about. |
|
|
it felt like the universe was confirming that I was meant to be out there, sketching and connecting with art. It was one of those moments where you realize, this is what I’m meant to do in life. This was the Kiran Nadar Museum of art. |
|
|
Treasured memory number three from this experience has to be Museo Camera. |
|
|
A truly unique experience with SO much to take back. This museum captured the complete history of cameras and photography. From the pin hole cameras, to film cameras, to printing techniques like cyanotype, all the way up to the current smart phone camera and more. They had so many cameras that existed, including a model of the camera obscurer for the visitors to try out. The museum mapped out the advances in technology, milestones, important people in photography, and even how the world perceived photography. It really made me wonder how far we’ve come. From having to wait for films to develop, to all the equipment and effort that went into taking a single picture, to how flashes could only be used once - it really makes a change in the way you think about time itself. It was incredible. |
|
|
my favourite thing, aside from the ALL the film cameras of course, was this absolutely tiny camera that was displayed in the exhibit. It is literally 16 mm film. Can you imagine that? These are called subminiature cameras. The name of these made me giggle. Truly a “pocket” camera. I can only imaging being someone who invents this and uses it. I have always been fascinated by film photography, and I had no idea this size of a camera even existed. |
|
|
some of the other really tiny cameras |
|
|
And to wrap up my museum-hopping adventure, I already knew I had a soft spot for vintage things—cameras, books, art, home decor, you name it—but my next visit revealed my new-found love for vintage transport. This museum took me on a journey through the evolution of Indian transportation, from horses and carriages to charming, rounded vintage cars. I could almost hear the hum of the old roads, smell the fuel, and feel the history around me. The vintage cars, in particular, stole my heart. There’s just something so charming about the designs of the past that you don’t find in modern vehicles. No wonder this is a transport museum, because either was certainly transported back to that time. This was the Heritage transport Museum. |
|
|
This was a much needed trip I made to reconnect with my creative self. I drew so much and learned so much in the 14 days I stayed in Delhi. It was enlightening to know I truly get the most joy when I am creating something tangible. Coming back to my studio life now, as grateful as I am for it, has made me realise that I want to work towards making more Time to just create whenever I can. Just for myself. For pure joy. |
|
|
I would take my little sketchbook with me everywhere and sketch whenever I got the change, capturing fleeting moments of inspiration down in the pages. |
|
|
I would take pictures other things that inspired me, like graffiti on the streets, |
|
|
or the pretty architecture |
|
|
I let myself also indulge in the art of the old - a vinyl record store - and learnt the true meaning of music. It was like I could see the musical notes moving and creating magic in front of me. |
|
|
I treated myself to delicious food, and of course, went home and made sketches of it. |
|
|
One of my favourite moments was when I got to sit down and sketch with my cousin. It was such a special memory that I’ll treasure forever.
|
|
|
When I returned home, I had the biggest smile on my face. The trip filled me with so much inspiration and excitement, and I can’t wait to slowly turn all these new ideas into tangible projects and share them with you! I’m so glad I gave myself the time to step away and reconnect with the things I love. So, until my next adventure, I hope I could impart some inspiration to you, and hopefully, you'll take the time needed away for yourself too. See you next time! with lots of love, ness |
|
|
|
|
