Netto (2024)

The “Netto” family is an Indian Christian family living in the UK. While firmly rooted in traditional Indian customs—eating by hand, burning incense throughout their home, and communicating in their native language—they also follow Christian beliefs, with hymns and internet sermons constantly filling the house. The rigid caste systems and rituals that still exist in parts of India have faded in this family, reflecting a hybrid of cultural values within their home. Through sound and visual design, this project captures the conflicts and harmonies that unfold in their small living space, representing the birth of a new community, a previously uncharted form of family life and future communal identities.

The symbolic cross, often representing the sacrificial side of civilization, here alludes to a dynamic, evolving mixed culture. Like the industrial revolution's impact on society, today’s cultural exchanges shape a multi-layered, uncontainable diversity in which each household has its own evolving identity. This new form of culture represents the face of every nation today, including the UK. While many immigrants drive the social forces within countries, societies remain binary, often distinguishing immigrants from natives without fully embracing them as one. Rather than merely critiquing these social inequalities, this project uses sound to convey the essence of contemporary societal friction—a raw, authentic voice that encapsulates the times.

To film this, I installed a water tank and captured the wavering reflections of a fluorescent light, later animating it to emphasize rhythm. Using an unconventional 5/4 time signature, the project brings out the distorted, unbalanced nature of modern society, capturing its dissonant beat.