Trustfall
Light Installation
Stories with | Garystar K Phanbuh
Artist-Designer | Srishti Pabra
Concept Note
Trustfall explores the innate bond between humans have with nature, portraying that nature is not separate from us but intricately woven into our lives. Moving beyond simply conveying information, this project invites audiences to feel and experience the emotional journey of building trust with the natural world. It centers on Gary’s deeply personal story and his evolving relationship with the Byrdaw waterfall, which he perceives as a listening presence and a source of trust and protection. Through storytelling and interactive design, the project utilizes the powerful metaphor of darkness and light, where darkness embodies fear and uncertainty, and light symbolizes the slow, earned emergence of trust, surrender, and connection with nature. The final outcome is an interactive, rotatable octagonal zoetrope, featuring laser-cut shadow art panels that sequentially unfurl Gary’s emotional path, accompanied by a soundscape mirroring this narrative arc. By physically engaging with the piece, audiences discover that trust in nature is instinctive, deeply personal, and reciprocal.
About
Srishti Pabra
Synonymous with her name, she has always seen herself as a creator. She loves tinkering with new ideas, stories, and visuals to craft something for the world to see. An aesthete at heart, she is drawn to detail, mood, and meaning in everything she creates.
Hailing from Mumbai, she is a city girl at heart, though she wouldn’t hesitate to run to a tropical island at the drop of a hat. A favourite combination for her is a tall glass of coffee and vinyl records. She enjoys meeting and connecting with new people, listening to their stories, and allowing those experiences to shape her perspective.
For her, design is more than just a skill—it’s a way of exploring the world and her place within it. Each project is an opportunity to learn, to play, and to grow—not only as a designer, but as a person guided by curiosity, emotion, and imagination.
Garystar K Phanbuh
Gary is a responsible tourism fellow from Meghalaya, associated with Green hub. Raised near the Bydraw fall in Cherrapunji, next to his grandmothers house, Gary grew up witnessing the rhythm and force of nature ever since the beginning. His work now involves taking care of the waterfall, ensuring safe passage for visitors there and preserving its beauty. Beyond his role as a caretaker, Gary shares a deeply personal connection with nature. Speaking in Khasi and shaped by the monsoon filled landscape around him, Gary’s relation with the fall is of reverence and trust. His experiences blur lines between nature and spirit, acting as a reminder of how belief and respect are foundations of a strong, pure connection.
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