Type : Art Exhibition : Phygital Display
Location: Manchester, England
Year : 2025
Host : Manchester Metropolitan University
CONCEPT & DIRECTION
Rooted in history and philosophy, the concept aimed to revive the game’s original intent : where ladders represented virtues and snakes represented vices. The design evolved from a suspended fabric idea to a life-sized, modular board made of interlocking cards, inviting visitors to physically engage with the moral journey it depicted.
MATERIAL LANGUAGE
To stay true to sustainability and local production, the installation was crafted from eco boards printed by local vendors. The boards were lightweight, fire-resistant, and recyclable. Each tile carried motifs and colours inspired by different regions, reflecting the game’s visual evolution across a hundred years.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
IMPACT & REFLECTIONS
FUTURE SCOPE
Through this project, I learned how design, storytelling, and technology can coexist to reinterpret heritage in a contemporary format. The process sharpened my understanding of collaboration, material experimentation, and the power of narrative-driven installations to connect audiences across cultures.
This project marks the beginning of our larger vision, which is to revive and share forgotten histories through design. We aim to exhibit Gyan Chaupar in museums and cultural spaces, creating installations that make the past tangible. Starting with this story, we hope to continue uncovering and communicating many more untold narratives in the future.
Visual Direction by Sneha Nayak
XR Development by Vivek Gautam
Museum Curators Kate Egan & Victoria Dahl
The form developed through continuous exploration of material feasibility and cultural storytelling. Shifting from digital prints to physical modules allowed the work to grow in scale and interactivity. The interlocking system not only removed the need for glue but also made assembly intuitive and transportable by mirroring the adaptability of the game itself.
Gyan Chaupar was an art commission for Manchester Metropolitan University’s annual Degree Show. I , along with Graphic Designer Sneha Nayak, reimagined the Indian origins of Snakes and Ladders as an interactive installation that traced how the game’s values travelled across time and cultures. The proposal received the highest grant of £2000 and was exhibited from June to September, 2025.
The final installation stood as a walkable, layered artwork that merged tradition with technology. An XR experience was integrated through a QR code, where visitors could view animated snakes hovering above the structure, blending Sneha’s graphic design with Niveditta’s spatial composition.