Leesha Chaurasia

"Connections"

Section MS9, Daryan Knoblauch

Keywords: nature

The project Connections investigates the act of conversation as a daily ritual further examining the activities, ceremonies and customs that allow the human mind to sync with its direct surroundings as well as a device that structures thoughts of ourselves and our connections to others, executed by the act of instigating a thought. Due to a close reading of neuroscience, fine art, and pop culture, the act of “connecting”, will be scrutinized to use the medium of an installation and a short movie to express literal and perceived forms of loneliness that derive from its antithesis, disconnect. The installation will symbolize the human neural network which illuminates after experiencing the emotional intimacy of a human connection thereby shedding light on its antithesis “disconnect” posed by our urban life. The project aims to spark a dialogue about the experience of both tangible and perceived loneliness in a bustling city where the potential for meaningful connections is frequently thwarted by its dehumanizing elements, underscoring the physical and perceived proximity of individuals amidst the urban forest. The film will be portraying the concept by addressing the daily ritual of making and consuming chai (tea). Across cultures tea has acted as a catalyst for social interaction, fostering bonding, and strengthening relationships. Examining the custom of tea consumption as a social connector, the film will depict the act of making and consuming tea as a part of my morning repetitive routine exploring the loneliness that is felt every morning due to disconnection emerging from life circumstances, thereby scrutinizing the modern outlook of life, it’s hustle culture and it’s overarching consequences on our social life and therefore our health.