‘East of the Railway Tracks, Section 2’

In this section of a larger panorama, Venantius J Pinto shows us a village that may be the epitome of decrepit. Ramshackle structures stand with walls cracked and doors off-hinge. Weathered tin roofs are patched with whatever material is closest at hand. Something is wrong in this town. Will nothing happen to change this bleak scene? The village seems empty. Where are all the people? At far left we see two of them, busy at a pair of big tin drums. They tend carefully, and out of the barrels rise tall, magnificent sheets of red fire, dancing strips of bright colour in an otherwise dreary sky. What have they found to burn in the village, that the flames should stand so spectacular and so high? How much of it did they have to throw in to create something this wonderful, this warming? How much will it take to achieve real change? This is part of a regular series of Himal's editorial commentary on artwork by Venantius J Pinto. Enogu (Japanese pigments); Inks: Shellac, Walnut, Sumi; and Photocolor. Moleskine Japanese accordion book. 31 panels (each 9 x 14 cm (3½ x 5½"), including back of front cover.