Friday the 7th of March marked the 71st edition of VNV Stories and highlighted the 2nd release in the VegNonVeg Artist Tee’s Series. A collaboration with artist, creative and photographer Aaryan Sinha.
Limited to only 48 prints, the tee features a striking photo print from Sinha’s project excerpt “For What Was, Will Soon Be Forgotten”. The image shows a modular scaffolding installation in the Himalayan mountains. Typically displayed as a sign of urban change, this scaffolding structure becomes a metaphor for the region’s ever-increasing transformation.
Launched along with his photo exhibition titled “For What Was, Will Soon Be Forgotten”, at VegNonVeg Gurgaon, this tee represents the conflicting narratives and histories of India’s most protected regions, standing as a witness to its evolving future.
“For What Was, Will Soon Be Forgotten”
This project has taken Aaryan across India’s border regions, exploring landscapes and histories marked by conflict and exchange. Over the past two years, Aaryan visited states bordering Pakistan twice, excluding Kashmir due to its volatility.
Last September, he visited Kashmir and Ladakh to immerse himself in their complex histories and capture them through photography. He created staged modular installations resembling scaffolding amidst the Himalayan mountains, provoking thought on the region's ongoing changes.
This scaffolding, which usually symbolizes urban change, represents broader shifts in India, including those in remote areas. The 2023 discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in Kashmir highlights economic growth but risks environmental degradation and cultural shifts. This installation will document this change, reflecting the tension between the past and future.
The imagery presented here will serve not only as “art” but as commentary on Kashmir’s contested identity, standing as a testament to its people, land, and the transformations shaping its uncertain future.
Aaryan's photo exhibition is now on display and open for viewing at the VegNonVeg Gurgaon Store!
