Gyan Chaupar x MMU

Gyan Chaupar was an art commission for Manchester Metropolitan University’s annual Degree Show. The Indian origins of Snakes and Ladders were reimagined as an interactive installation that traced how the game’s values travelled across time and cultures. This proposal received the highest grant of £2000 and was exhibited from June to September, 2025.

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.

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.

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.