Communicative Art at Chennai Airport

This art work done in brass is a recent addition in the departure hall of the new terminal at Chennai air port. 

The Chennai city is well known for its beaches, the Marina being the longest. What is characteristic of these beaches is the fishing hamlets where fishermen still use catamarans and non mechanised boats for fishing. Although such conventional fishing is on the decline, the tourists and traditionalists would still search to sight the catamarans and if possible wait for one to return from the sea with a catch.

People of Chennai feel nostalgic at the sight of the traditional fishing boats. No wonder the air port authorities felt to depict a historical scene of Chennai in the new terminal.

The craftsmanship of  this boat is most impressive. Each person distinguishes with a facial expression and a body posture depicting the role he plays in pushing the boat to the water.  The hull is empty with no net. The sight is typical of what we see even now in the marina or Pondicherry beaches, where the fishermen set the boat to sail with one or two fishermen on board. This is their way of sending them into the sea with their blessings.  They are welcomed back to the beach after the fishing in a similar way by other fisher men. Their solidarity with each other for this risky profession is a sign of bonding that exists between them. Often we can overhear the narration of their experiences at sea while they clean and mend  the net at the shore.   

As I watched this art work, all these memories flashed in my mind. Going to the marina beach was one of our favourite family outings when we lived in Chennai for fifteen years. 

I felt immensely pleased that someone  in the airport authority cared to commission this art work at the air port. It stays there as a reminder of the aspirations and struggles of the traditional fishermen's community, who live at the mercy  of nature's bounty for each day. I hope many would stop to watch this art work which itself is one form of paying tribute to fishermen for their bravery to launch into the sea day and night. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)