Freedom has been considered as one of the greatest achievements of a nation and
a country. To have a unique identity, to have rights, to have culture and values, self protection, and so many aspects makes it one of the most desired objective of any nation who stood on strong feet to fight for it, an element for whom most battles and wars took
place. What is FREEDOM ? It is a state of practicing some core basic rights under the defined jurisdictions which were not imposed by any external forces. The laws and rules to protect the locals, the one who make that nation and are an integral part of it even if they are immigrants and foreigners who seek food, refuge and work. Freedom is thus an end to the SLAVERY that makes a nation kill itself and its self esteem. But behind achieving any freedom from any one, a transition state of STRUGGLE is there. It’s the
most influencing factor of the whole act where its absence make the whole plot dark This struggle became my objective to express my manifestation of Slavery.
The first view of site shows that it is mainly a graveyard with some building in the background. On a closer look it shows its not so. The central graves have human hands coming out of them showing “Those people who fought for their rights and were killed while their arms still at work even after their death”. The tall columns depict that there
was a jungle of barricades from whom people tried to escape but died in the process for their struggle”. The barren trees in between the graves depict ”Even the nature suffered under the slavery as people were free to cultivate what they wanted to and thus starved to death”. The lady statue on the front without arms depict ”Lack of respect for the local
religions and culture and its destruction caused by the invaders”. The steps take us down to the main building symbolizes “Downfall of the human life and its standards under slavery”. Upon reaching the base level in front of the building, there are two graves with human sculptures which have some of their body outside the grave. They depict ”Those
people who initially stood against the slavery but faced heavy opposition and mostly got murdered”. Once visitor enters into the building, a tunnels takes the visitor to the other end. The tunnel initially is 6 feet wide but by the end it shrikes to 3 feet, height reduces
from 15 feet to 6 feet and raises like a ramp up to 12 feet. Thus the passage which is mostly dark, shows ”The struggle period that people took to get their freedom”. In the end corner there are windows but no door, visitor when pushes the front wall it opens up into a gate towards the statue of liberty which depicts freedom after a long slavery and a bright future. They can then take ramps to get back to the front of the building and its entrance. I got inspiration from the following Poem and guidance from my teacher Dr. Anita Kapadia from design studio.
Fallen Warriors by James W. Richardson
What ghosts walk these hallowed hills,
Where once the cry of battle reigned?
Who are these smoky misty forms that
By their blood this ground was stained?
Their cry of pain floats on the wind.
Echoing from the ridge,
Calling for aid and comfort, but alas,
The spans too wide to bridge.
Only God can help these souls who have
Fallen at the line,
Build no monument to these men, this
Ground shall be their shrine.
Let angels hover above the trees and
Guard these men of yore,
Kiss their cheeks and soothe their brow,
For death shall be no more.