June 13, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:
Roger Anger’s Auroville Model

Architect Roger Anger’s model for the experimental township of Auroville is a unique architectural
artifact of both high artistic merit and historical significance. It is an extremely elaborate, expressive
object that clearly communicates Auroville’s bold urban form and its relationship with the landscape,
as imagined by Anger and the Mother, Mirra Alfassa – a quality that is particularly difficult to express
at the level of the city. While architectural models are often thought of as mere tools for representing
spatial ideas, they are also significant tools for architects themselves to visualize, evaluate, and
refine their ideas in physical form. Anger’s model for the township of Auroville, in particular, helped
not only visualize but also determine the widely celebrated “galaxy” plan of this new experimental
society near Pondicherry. As such, it is a stunning artifact representing and embodying an equally
stunning urban and societal vision.

Thanks to the generosity and the unwavering support of the Auroville Town Development Council
(ATDC), the Auroville model is currently on view at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as part of the
exhibition The Project of Independence: Architectures of Decolonization in South Asia, 1947–1985
(February 20-July 2, 2022). This exhibition is the first of its kind to showcase the Subcontinent’s
extraordinary architectural production in the post-Independence period in a transnational way. The
Auroville model constitutes one of the anchor pieces of the exhibition’s opening section, “New
Cities,” which explores the design and construction of new and innovative urban visions for life in
South Asia after Independence. Most importantly, this unique artifact is the only architectural model
presented in this entire section.

MoMA performs conservation work for objects it deems to be of highest historical and artistic value –
an honor usually reserved for objects in MoMA’s permanent collection. The Auroville model was a
rare instance in which an object on loan was assessed as worthy of reconditioning treatment from
our world-class team of conservators. In order to present the model in the best possible light to our
audiences, and with approval of the ATDC, our colleagues in the Department of Sculpture
Conservation performed 40 hours of treatment on the model – removing dust and impurities that had
accumulated over the decades, repairing the perimeter of the base so as to aesthetically present a
uniformly painted edge, and repairing a slightly disfigured building in the center of the model
where the pressure of the deforming and scratched acrylic that originally covered the model had
resulted in damage over time. Upon the completion of this restoration project, the Auroville model
was mounted in a dedicated pedestal in MoMA’s galleries and covered with a custom-fabricated
bonnet so that the power of the Mother’s and Anger’s urban vision for Auroville could be
communicated to exhibition visitors with the utmost immediacy.

The model has been displayed to resounding success and is one of the main attractions of the
exhibition. Many visitors – professionals and general audience members alike – have commented on
the extraordinary architectural merits and beauty of this object. For these reasons, the Department
of Architecture and Design earnestly hopes to include the model in MoMA’s collection, which will
allow curators to exhibit it in a number of different contexts and changing displays going forward.
I am pleased to attach to this letter a number of photographs documenting the presence of Roger
Anger’s model in the current exhibition.

Sincerely,
Martino Stierli

The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design
New York, NY 10019

Arpanaa, (a service under AV City Services) is delighted to present a unique Indian Classical Music and Dance concert: Sri Krishna Rasa Panchamrutam on 29th August from 7:30-8:30pm at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Bharat Nivas. This program commemorated the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami-The Birth Celebration of Lord Krishna and is an offering at His lotus feet

“IS THIS THE END?” A theatrical, chorographical, musical performance inspired by a poem by Sri Aurobindo, called: “IS THIS THE END?”. Facing a world in crisis and deep transition, our characters on stage express the physical urgency of a new breathe, new link to Nature and Vastness.

“Is this the end?”

‍

Is this the end of all that we have been,

And all we did or dreamed,–

A name unremembered and a form undone,–

Is this the end?

A body rotting under a slab of stone

Or turned to ash in fire,

A mind dissolved, lost its forgotten thoughts,–

Is this the end?

Our little hours that were and are no more,

Our passions once so high

Being mocked by the still earth and calm sunshine,–

Is this the end?

Our yearnings for the human Godward climb

Passing to other hearts

Deceived, while smiles towards death and hell the world,–

Is this the end?

Fallen is the harp; shattered it lies and mute;

Is the unseen player dead?

Because the tree is felled where the bird sang,

Must the song too hush?

One in the mind who planned and willed and thought,

Worked to reshape earth’s fate,

One in the heart who loved and yearned and hoped,

Does he too end?

The Immortal in the mortal is his Name;

An artist Godhead here

Ever remoulds himself in diviner shapes,

Unwilling to cease

Till all is done for which the stars were made,

Till the heart discovers God

And the soul knows itself. And even then

There is no end.

– Sri Aurobindo

‍

Forty years of Dance, Theatre & Music based on body memories for decolonization of mind, body and imagination 42 creations in 82 countries. In the opera of Paris, international festivals in South Africa, Hong Kong, Brazil and many others as Theatre Talipot Reunion Island France in Indian Ocean. 

Now as Surya Performance Lab in Auroville, South India. We are creating a new show for 150th Sri Aurobindo birthday.

It’s a theatrical, choreographical, musical performance inspired by a poem by Sri Aurobindo, called: “IS THIS THE END?”

Facing a world in crisis and deep transition, our characters on stage express the physical urgency of a new breathe, new link to Nature and Vastness.

We absolutely need your support to create this show. Much more than supporters or donors, Surya performance lab wishes to consider you as partners.

 In collaboration with AVI-USA, we invite you to a unique artistic online live performance from Sri Aurobindo auditorium, Auroville, India on Saturday 25th of September. 

Please register now:https://aviusa.org/surya

You also can now donate directly on our FS account : 252160.

After donation, write to us and we will send the link for the event

Email:suryaperformancelab@auroville.org.in

Surya performance lab artists will perform for you in live an extract of our new show: “IS THIS THE END?”

We will answer to your questions.

This fundraising event aim is to support the creation of a new kind of transformative performance.

On the Saturday 25th of September

9pm – New Delhi

5.30pm – Paris/ Berlin

4.30pm – London

11.30am – New York

8.30am – Los Angeles

5.30pm – Johannesburg

Video presentation of the event:https://youtu.be/6VHDO2W5V2w

Please register now:https://aviusa.org/surya

Surya Performance Lab Website: https://www.surya-performance-lab.com/