Raipur

Conflict is a natural part of life, and how a society handles conflicts reflects its maturity. The absence of conflict doesn’t necessarily mean an ideal society. Conflictorium Raipur is a participatory multimedia museum dedicated to conflict. It collaborates with stakeholders to promote informed policies and allows community expression through art and culture.

It aims to provide a public space in Chhattisgarh to reduce violence and tensions during conflicts. In a divided world, the Conflictorium embraces the gray areas, going beyond black and white, and celebrates them for the sake of peace. We see ourselves as a creative bridge-builder, demonstrating how social change can be achieved through innovation.

Inside There, Outside Here

Sensory stimulation facilitates a disconnect from the “outside” to start the journey inside

In order to connect better with what’s outside one must slow down, stop and even disconnect from it. A moment of such a realization is often enough to begin our journey inwards and while we are on it we start to see what’s around, as a part of us, as a whole.

Sensory deprivation and stimulation, using a sound installation facilitates a disconnect from the outside to help create a canvas to better understand conflicts

Boundaries and Borders

This installation maps the history of Chhattisgarh’s creation and provides context to better understand where we are and why

Borders are among the most fundamental instruments in modulating the logistics of space and territory, more specifically what is inside and outside, delineating what is included and excluded.

Despite conventions that deem the border as being an impenetrable politicized constituent, diverse types and intensity of flows, reciprocities, and processes morph borders over time and speak directly of externalities.

Circus of Violence

This is an exhibit by local artist community Quarter 147, it depicts the multiplicity of identities and the conflict enmeshed in them

“…without a sense of identity, there can be no real struggle”

― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Are we who we are? Or are we who they think we are? Who are they? Who are we? Do we have only one identity? Do we experience the world through singular identities?

Did we choose these identities? Is our choicelessness our site of rage, suffering, power or entitlement? Are we reminded of our caste, gender or religion, everyday? Or does it not matter since it enables us, everyday?

Moral compass

In this room we have displayed a copy of the Indian Constitution (a pre-1977 version) and there are no restrictions on visitors as to how they engage with it

We encourage the visitors to go through the world’s longest written Constitution and try to understand its different elements. Knowledge of constitutional rights is essential for every citizen and the inaccessibility of the same is what we’re trying to overcome in this particular space of the museum.

In addition to the Constitution’s presence, the space also has panels that display the human rights movement that spanned several years, for getting the inhuman practice of manual scavenging banned by the law of the land.

Gallery of dispute

In this interactive installation, various viewpoints from within the existing social conflicts are juxtaposed conversationally

While conflict is unpleasant, turning our faces away does not resolve them. The first step of healing a wound may be to acknowledge and accept it.

In this interactive installation, various viewpoints from within the existing social conflicts are juxtaposed conversationally

Witness Box

In this room, the visitor is transported, aurally, to the ground zero of conflict and exposed to the various real life crisis situations that arise from it

Using first person narratives from those caught in the middle of conflicts with wider consequences, this installation helps in bringing Conflict and it’s myriad complications closer to the visitor.

Instead of being an observer of artifacts, the visitor is transported, aurally, to the ground zero of conflict and exposed to the various real life crisis situations.

Sorry Tree

The Peepal tree that is the identifier, nourisher and shade giver at the museum also serves as its Sorry Tree, holding space for apologies that were never asked for, expressed or understood

The sign of the truly powerful is humility; arrogance is a sign of cowardice. Apologizing and forgiving are perhaps the most profound of all human behaviors, with the capacity to transform the destinies of future generations.

Feelings Map

The Peepal tree that is the identifier, nourisher and shade giver at the museum also serves as its Sorry Tree, holding space for apologies that were never asked for, expressed or understood

Memory Lab

“Even in an ideal society, conflict would persist – pain, hurt, retribution would flare up. Instead of sowing seeds of silence inside our souls, can we find more creative and constructive ways to express and channel such memories?”

The “Memory Lab” is a community art installation that provides the visitors an outlet to express their innermost thoughts without any hesitation. The empty jars on the shelves are there to preserve the memories of conflict in the lives of the visitors.

Studing conflicts between ‘seeking to be logical’ and ‘finding ourselves suffocated with logic’

Conflict to Resolution, Life to fulfilment. Peace and love
–TS Singh Deo

Coming here is like having conversation with truth. Enlightening and yet strangely very peaceful. Never knew mirrors came in so many shades of grey – Alisha

Sublime, important and real – Rishabh Mukim

Came to see something new, to understand something new. But I got what I didn’t bargain for; a feeling which I have never felt before. Coming again to feel – Abhishek Sharma

I am so glad Raipur has this place. It brings out so much conflict within you and yet it’s very calming. It feels like a “Consequence” place, where you reflect on what caused what – Neeraja Kudrimoti