Jungle Lock down
by Zero
The pandemic has been a stark reminder of our flawed relationship with nature. In the Lodhi Art District, ZERO unfolds this complex theme through this composition, where the arch at the centre of the facade is an entry point as well as the divide between the two parts of the narrative.
On one side - a concrete jungle, with a man caught in the ever-increasing urbanisation of the city. He is seen wearing the mask of a fox, reminiscent of animals being caged in the confines of zoos - representing the isolation and captivity which humans have felt on a global level during the lockdown.
On the other side, a woman is seen flourishing within nature. Monkeys, sparrows, and butterflies - species that were once disappearing from the city, are now out to play. With human activity restricted, nature is rejuvenating, slowly restoring the balance. There is harmony; flowers are blooming, the sky is blue again, and our surroundings are lush.
The work portrays the possibilities of ‘The Garden of Eden’, as nature reclaims its lost space and teaches us a lesson in healing. It is a reminder that we have to lose something to rebuild better. Perhaps the man caught in the city hopes for the same kind of future, too, portrayed by the plant that he’s seen holding on to.
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