Domus India – March 2018

29

there is very little thought put into the
well-being of the inhabitants or that the
concepts of ‘adequate’ or ‘habitable’ are
quite low down the order in most
government schemes.
Thirdly, the curators, with the help of
film-maker Sanjiv Shah, have produced
a film which is actually the heart of the
exhibition. Looking at the complexity of
the ecology of housing, the film shifts
between a narrative on the condition of
housing in different areas and schemes,
and also has selected commentaries by
architects, urbanists, town planners and
activists, who explain the many nuances
of the housing crises. The treatment of

the film is balanced, in the sense that it

puts forth the complexity of the issue

with the sensitivity it deserves, without

being biased to any one school of thought.

Overall the placement of the different

materials in the exhibition makes it easy

for the viewer to navigate and take in the

various aspects. By planning a series of

multi-disciplinary talks and a

conference revolving around the housing

situation in India the curators attempt

to go beyond the exhibition display.

Despite all the reference material,

lectures, and other information, there

are no easy answers in this exhibition.

So what is the state housing? The

curators have refrained from answering

that question; they leave that for the

viewer to decide. Through exhaustive

research and documentation from various

governmental and non-governmental

agencies as well as interviews and case

studies, they provide just enough

stimuli for the audience to understand

Should migrants have

the right to squat on

public land if the

government fails to

provide affordable

housing?