Changing Landscapesby Manoj Darekar Changing Landscapes is an amalgamation of several paths leading into a profoundly personal inquiry; an exploration of the interplay between urban spaces and migratory human presence, all underpinned by the phenomenon of pareidolia. In Manoj's hands, this underlying illusion becomes a compelling muse, an artistic method that reveals the mystical in the mundane. The psychology of pareidolia enables us humans to perceive a meaningful image in these random or inconclusive visual patterns, drawing in on our unconscious to fill in the gaps. We, in our own way, can tolerate ambiguity; however, in the external world, ambiguity draws out traces of ourselves from within us. Through this exhibition, Manoj delves deep into the ethereal realm of the subconscious, where the fluidity of thought, emotion, and memory coalesces into a torrent of abstract forms. Here, pareidolia bridges the gap between the abstract and the relatable.  Invoking an ever-changing urban landscape, these pieces become personal yet distant depictions of Manoj’s experience. From an observer’s lens, with a gaze that looks outward, he collects visual data, internalises the experiences and then, epitomises them. In his compositions, lines and shapes merge, forming an intricate tapestry of human forms and faces; these figures appear trapped yet inextricably interwoven, mirroring the complex relationships and synchronicities that define urban life. Dissolving the perceived concept of landscape and replacing it with a dynamic cultural portrait that reflects reality, Manoj applies an instinctive, almost feral treatment to the forms in these works highlighting evolutionary traits and instincts rooted in our primal origins.  Changing Landscapes, therefore, offers a captivating perspective of the cityscape through pareidolic portraits, revealing the bond between a city and its people, especially neomigrants. It beckons us to marvel at how the city mirrors the people it accommodates, while actively sculpting their destinies.