Reclaimed Construction

Throughout India, an architectural subculture thrives, grounded in the re-adapation of expended building materials. From the construction of dwellings to the manual deconstruction of freighters to the creation of informal space and finally to art, the tradition of recycling is firmly ingrained. As a byproduct, the visual environment becomes transformed, as imagery and advertising peep out at strange angles and form new collages and phrases. In other places, cast off materials are jerry rigged to transform spaces.Most of these images were taken in Mumbai, India, in the settlement surrounding the Mahim train station, the ship breaking yards, and the suburbs near Santa Cruz.

Sameena Sitabkhan