Seven artists, inspired and sometimes frustrated by the rain have created fashion installations based on a monsoon theme, currently on display at the central atrium of Select Citywalk Mall in Saket. The idea behind Paradoxical Views of the Monsoon in Contemporary India is to reach out to people and spread the word about the damaging effects of climate change and the ecological imbalance that threatens us all.

“The idea is essentially to convey the paradox in the monsoon in present times through art and fashion. Monsoons used to be a reason for celebration and romance but has now turned into a destructive force which is what artists haveattempted to interpret,” says Himanshu Verma, curator of the show, which began on September 12 and continues till September 18.

The installations include The Raincoat —a bright orange raincoat interpreted as a couture dress (right) — by Varun Sardana and Submerged / Yeh bearish ka paani, mujhe le ke doob — a bunch of melodramatic umbrellas based on old Hindi film songs by New India Bioscope Company. Cell DSGN, a design company has replicated the city’s plight after heavy showers through their insallation called Monsoon The Destroyer (top, left) . “We’ve created a situation where nature lashes back at us. This installation recreates the havoc,” explains Smita Singh Rathore of Cell DSGN, who has used actual uprooted tree bark and mannequins made of old cardboard in her artwork. Talking Parrot by Ritika and Gaurav delves into the effects of climate change on agriculture. The installation has a scarecrow symbolising agriculture and a parrot, that interpretes the human being, voicing concern but without any real comprehension of the impending doom. Is anybody listening?