Warp and Weft of the Govandi 8:56 was born out of my experience travelling through the Mumbai local train system in the summer of 2026. What continually amazed me was the way people, spaces, and objects seemed to blend seamlessly into one another, constantly making way for each other in a choreography that felt entirely ordinary.
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Stage 1
Observing the people, spaces, and objects encountered during my daily commute. From posters plastered across station pillars to dogs sleeping in the middle of walkways as commuters navigated around them, I documented these fleeting moments alongside the first thoughts and impressions they evoked.
Stage 2
Translating these observations into vertical and horizontal illustrations. The vertical strips represent the people and objects that varied from day to day, capturing the unpredictable nature of each commute. The slightly transparent butter paper represents the elements that remained constant, such as the walk to the station, the platforms, and the train route. Together, these layers distinguish between the changing details of each journey and the familiar spaces that held them together.
Stage 3
Cutting the individual illustrated strips and weaving them together to form a mat-like structure. The resulting composition brings together portraits of the people I encountered and the transient spaces and modes of movement that shaped my commute, reflecting how seemingly independent moments intersect to form a collective journey.
It's a truly heartwarming experience putting personal experiences together in tangible forms. This journey everyday taught me so much, and i'd like to think that in between people watching and travelling I found a little piece of myself.
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