"A poignant and incisive art initiative that delves into so much more than merely the superficial newsy politics of Kashmir. I think this is a way to not just read and watch history, but to experience how it is made of the enormity of inner lives, which dwells in the so-called 'small' things." Swaati Chattopadhyay, New Delhi based writer and dancer "The work beautifully captures the banality of what has been barred in Kashmir in the name of security....most of the messages in the collection are related to everyday life, a pointer towards how life remains affected in Kashmir even in times of relative calm." Nawaz Gul Qanungo, "If there were smses to sell, what would you write?", Dawn.com "Paper txt msgs from Kashmir....tells the story of an old conflict in the thwarted missives of those enduring its latest indignity. The result is a poignant, inventive and heart-breaking look at the interruptions wrought by the ban on people caught between two countries, two militaries and hundreds of millions of nationalism-fed egos. The 150 messages take us, well meaning web voyeurs, into the inner rooms of the Kashmiri limbo." Rafia Zakaria, "Art and Resistance", Dawn.com ---- About the project In the winter of December 2009 close to a thousand “paper txt msgs” were distributed throughout Indian administered Kashmir as a kind of tongue-in-cheek response to the government’s ban on pre-paid mobile phone services in the region. Paper txt msgs from Kashmir began as a lo-fi participatory media project initiated by Alana Hunt. Through a range of ongoing collaborations the project has since developed into a multi-platform body of work incorporating video, installation and on and offline publications all of which can be accesed on this site. Spread the word and circulate the material as you please.... ---- |
The publication Paper txt msgs from Kashmir (the book) contains close to 150 paper txt msgs accompanied by a collection of writings from Suvaid Yaseen, Majid Maqbool, Zooni Tickoo, Iram Razzaq, Rahim Seab, Gowhar Fazili, Uzma Falak and Tanveer Ahmed. The publication is available both as an e-book and as a limited edition print. Released in May 2011, the e-book is available free here. In August 2011 seventy copies of Paper txt msgs from Kashmir was made available in a limited edition print. Around 30 copies have been sent to individuals who helped give shape to this project in various ways over time. The remaining 40 copies can be purchased for $90 AUD each. If you are interested in obtaining a copy please contact Alana, here. ---- |
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The video
A viewing copy of Paper txt msgs from Kashmir (the video).
sound: Black Cracker (Jon Watts/no input mixer & Rishin Singh/trombone) ---- Oceans of thanks to all those, near and far, who have and continue to give shape to this project and its various formations over time. In particular Suvaid, Majid, Suhail, Fayaz, Riyaz, Tanveer Hussain, Mubashira, Irshad, Ishtiyaq, Inder and Zooni, Tanveer Ahmed, Gowhar, Iram, Uzma and Rishin. Many warm thanks. And to Rupin for her attention to detail, for prodding and for always understanding. ---- Related media Art and Resistance, by Rafia Zakaria in Dawn, 27 July, 2011. If there were smses to sell, what would you write? by Nawaz Gul Qanungo in Dawn, 22 July, 2011. Kashmir's Paper Tigers by Neha Thirani originally appeared in the Times of India Crest Edition, 2 July, 2011. Ban on SMS evokes elegy by Aussie, by Noor-Ul-Qamrain in The Sunday Guardian, 10 July, 2011. Letters from Kashmir, by Baba Umar first published in Kashmir Dispatch 7 May, 2010. Ban on pre-paid meets sarcasm in Kashmir by Baba Umar first published in Rising Kashmir, 22 December, 2009. ---- Paper txt msgs from Kashmir, has been included in exhibitions at Sarai (New Delhi, 2010), Fraser Studios (Sydney, 2010), Memefest (Berlin, Nijmegen, Ljubljana, 2011) and at Sydney College of the Arts Galleries (Sydney, 2011). ---- |
