An Academic/Audio-Visual Installation by Toshali
Toshali Chattopadhyay, currently pursuing a PhD at the School of History and Geography, in collaboration with two visual artists (Mel and Clara), produced an audio-visual installation. Bridging the gap between artistic practice and academic inquiry, the installation attempted to blur boundaries between ways of researching to create a sensory experience to question time, memory and sustainability through the lens of the Calcutta tramway system. It garnered support from the DCU Ireland-India Institute and the DCU Institute for Climate and Society.
Featured in Homegrown (an Indian-based e-magazine): https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/the-city-at-ten-kilometres-an-hour-proves-that-public-transport-can-be-deeply-personal and received commendations from academics and artists alike.
This audio-visual installation explores Calcutta’s tramways through projected journeys and commuter voices, reflected on a traditional Bengali saree - blurring lines between movement, memory, and the silent exhaustion of urban life.
A Dubliner explores the history of Calcutta’s tramways through immersive visuals and layered audio recordings.
Visitors share transit stories as they pause and reflect within the installation.