This manifesto aims to make sense of my journey as a person, as an artist, and the practices I have been going through up till now- and define the path I aspire to take for my future projects.
1. Mreethmandir
My name- Mreethmandir, is written in Bangla as মৃৎমন্দির। It is a complex word made up of two parts-
Mreeth মৃৎ (/mrit/)
is a suffix that is added to nouns. It means, ‘made of clay’ or ‘regarding clay (or soil)’
Mandir মন্দির (/mondir/)
is the Bangla word for Temple, which can be used for Churches, Pagodas, Synagogues or any other place of prayer, worship, meditation and devotion.
2. What does it mean to be Mreethmandir?
Historically, temples are places of worship and shelter. Across different cultures and religions they made temples that made space for their specific beliefs and rituals. However, all temples are designed to create an atmosphere of grandeur, and safety. They act as a shelter against the outside world- where you can be vulnerable, cry out your frustrations, be alone with your thoughts, or seek social support.
Clay, on the other hand, is a soft and pliable material. It can be modeled into various shapes to serve purpose as different objects- from pots and vessels, to grand sculpture or idols. Clay as a material is often associated with being humble, absorbent, and tolerant.
Mreethmandir – a temple that is made of clay – should therefore be a space that is tolerant, and humble. A space- that lets people be vulnerable and makes them feel safe. Contrary to the grandeur of traditional temples, Mreethmandir should be a space that is down to earth, intimate and yet creates an atmosphere of security.
3. Recollecting
My previous artworks started with experimenting with animation, treating it like a fine art medium. I performed several experiments that explored the possibilities of animation to express complex feelings and changing perceptions. Most of them were short experiments but it helped me gain an understanding of the medium.
From 2019, my artworks started to become more self expressive. In this phase I made several projects that dealt with my reaction to the world around me and my attempt to break out of the confinements of reality.
With my animated short film Dogs in The City made on 2022 for a miniaturesque art exhibition- “Doob 2.0”, I started telling stories about my personal experiences that also spoke for other people growing up in the same city- dealing with the same kind of feelings.
This turn is an important step in my journey, and it sheds light on the direction I would like to take for my future projects.
4. Notes for the future
Reflecting upon my journey so far, I here present determinations that will give identity to my work and draw a framework for the exploration I intend to make in the future:
- I shall be true to my expression.
- I shall observe life more intimately.
- I shall prioritize my mental health so that I can reach out to those who need support.
- I shall listen to people who are often overlooked.
- I shall make artworks that inspire people to look at the world with more sensitivity.
- I shall advocate for a world that is more considerate towards those who are struggling to keep up.
- I shall make artworks that feel warm.
- My artworks shall create the scope for people to be more comfortable with themselves.
- My artworks shall create scope for people to be vulnerable with their feelings.
Mreethmandir Gunjan Kumar Roy
November 18, 2023
Genk, Belgium