Ahmedabad: At busy Nehrunagar Park traffic circle, a new art installation is asking people to pause and rethink how the city functions. Titled ‘Post Times’, the public exhibition by artist Saumil Bhandari repurposes a public garden into an interactive commentary on urban life. Instead of quiet gallery walls, the artwork sits in the middle of traffic, confronting passers-by with questions about noise and access, and how cities are slowly becoming less inclusive.The project engages directly with what Bhandari describes as the “invisible presence of capitalism,” but remains grounded in the street’s everyday realities: traffic chaos, access barriers and the steady erosion of shared civic behaviour. “Cities are all about caring for each other… now with all of these noise and making it exclusive for certain people you you’re breaking down the city,” Bhandari said.The installation comprises five works. Honk Nuke confronts urban cacophony through a sound sensor that causes letters spelling “Ahmedabad” to collapse as noise levels rise, prompting passersby to reassemble them. A Wheelchair for Comments draws attention to inclusive infrastructure, while a Conversation Booth — or AI Booth — invites dialogue over electrolyte water. The Soundscape samples aggressive city honking, and Sound Sketch features artist Dhammo creating live paintings driven by ambient noise.Bhandari collaborated with conservation architect Neha Chandel, artist Chandra Bhakuni, Aditya Dhingra on the AI Booth, and Sagar Pandya on sound design. Others, including Dharmesh on sound sketch and moderator Ria Detroja, supported the project’s engagement with heritage spaces and civic processes. Logistics coordinator Umesh Parsania said, “By moving art from “white galleries” to the street, we seek seeks to mend the social fabric through shared discourse.“
