'Everything will be remembered' a palimpsest

Etched copper plate filled with printing ink, copper wire. L5.5” x W 12”. 12 plates. Unique book.

My work is a combination of copper plates used historically for documentation and the idea of palimpsest.

Palimpsest: a manuscript or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing; something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.

In the light of anti-CAA protests and Delhi riots, I wanted to create a copper plate palimpsest for my time , so that the erasure of our constitutional values will not be forgotten. There are two layers of text in the work. In the partially erased layer seen beneath is the preamble to the Indian Constitution, declaring its claim to secure justice, liberty, and equality to all citizens, and promote fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation . That layer is being eroded, and replaced with textual details of Delhi riots, narrating the incidents of murder and rampage. Earlier only somebody in power like a king could creates edicts like this, but in democracy an ordinary citizen like me can create a copper plate edict which will memorialize my time.