Pratap Morey b. 1981

The idea for this work originates from the mushroom cloud—the towering cloud of smoke and debris formed by powerful nuclear explosions during World War II. Over time, the mushroom cloud has come to symbolise systemic destruction, representing the immense force and irreversible devastation unleashed by such events.

Pratap Morey sees the current frenzy of urban redevelopment as a comparable process of simultaneous construction and deconstruction. The ultimate damage of this endeavour remains unknown. It functions as an organised syndicate that promises growth, progress, and comfort, yet even those driving it seem unaware of the consequences it may eventually produce.

One of the most profound losses in this process is the loss of sky space, or neutral space. By steadily consuming the sky, we are making ourselves smaller as humans. This gradual erasure of openness and breathing room concerns him the most.

The visual language of architectural drawings is employed here to convey a human narrative—our existence, aspirations, and the constant negotiations embedded within acts of creation.

A supernova is an explosion that marks the end of a star’s life. Through this artwork, Pratap raises a question: Is the hysteria of becoming urban and developed leading us toward a form of self-destruction?