A change of scene, amidst uncertain times

In April 2021, I left my all familiar surroundings of Goa for the large bustling city of Bangalore. As I packed my stuff, I began to think about the 3.5 years that went by for The Balcão and how it has been a springboard for success for me. But I do tend to think ‘what next?’. Having spent the last few years intensely documenting the Goan landscape, what does this move mean for my work on The Balcão, especially in this post-Covid world we now inhabit.?

Though it was a bitter sweet moment, I felt that the time was right to change scenarios and face a new challenge to go forward in my architectural career. Building some financial freedom was important to me, as well the prospect of living in my own accommodation, that swayed me ultimately.

I’m not too concerned with shifting locations because my work has always been multi-cultural – living in a new place will only enrich me and my understanding of the world, and my roots at the same time. I’ve also noticed, from past experience, that Goa occupies the central theme of my work no matter where in the globe I am, which is quite reassuring. 

On the job front, having been unemployed for quite a bit, it was great to land a job at an architecture firm. However, all was not as smooth sailing as I would have hoped. This was a role far from the heritage realm. Having already spent 3 years at a mainstream practice, I had vowed to myself to get back into the conservation field. But alas, this was not to be. Given the dire circumstances owing to Covid, this is not a time to be picky, I told myself. Instead, I try to think of how I can make the most of it.

I guess I have to be patient and wait for my opportunity to step back into conservation. However, it would take a lot to keep me away from the field, as I am constantly intertwined in personal projects related to heritage which makes me feel I am never away to begin with.

That’s exactly what I intend to do here in Bangalore, to document heritage of the city that is very much on the brink of its existence as the pressures of urbanization increase.

Making such a move during COVID though has been quite rough. At the time of writing, we are currently in a lockdown due to the second wave. I’ve now spent more than 2 months cooped up working from home. I haven’t touched my camera or a writing pad in all of this time. Covid has certainly impacted my work, as I’m sure it has impacted others in the creative fields. Gone are those days where I could go up into strangers homes, interact with them and document their homes, or meet some senior citizens to speak about their migration experiences to distant lands.

After voicing out my thoughts which I kept in for more than 2 months, I do feel the next few months hold promise.(also I don’t want to end on a dismal note) The prospect of documenting the architectural heritage of Bangalore is exciting. This includes a documentation series I’ve initiated titled ‘In search of Correa’ which looks at the several works of Charles Correa in Bangalore – and there are some incredibly interesting ones. This increased time indoors has also enabled me to dive into my archives and look at my photography and develop my own distinct styles and themes.

I do hope to travel back and forth to Goa and keep my Goan projects alive, though maybe at a slower pace than usual. As the saying goes, You can take me out of Goa but you can’t take Goa out of me! That’s what I firmly believe, and if the past is any proof, rightly so. So here I am, wishing myself luck and hoping to keep the flame of my architectural documentation burning.