As one walks into the XYZ Maker Space in Brooklyn, it is impossible to walk ahead without playing with the "story boxes" that lines the tables along the entrance. These boxes have become a common sight not only in this space but also in many museums around the city that teach science to high schoolers.
Known as the "ABC Box", this piece of beauty is a true amalgamation of Indian art and science. This box is an interactive piece that is built off of the rich and royal Rajasthani tradition of Kavad storytelling. Kavad is a three-dimensional form of traditional Indian storytelling. A box unfolds to reveal pictures of episodes in a particular story, or more frequently in a series of stories about a particular character.
Traditionally Indian Kavads tell stories of the Gods and social morals. Mathura, an artist and engineer from India, combines it with simple technology and uses it to talk of science and technology. When asked why she decided to combine two such topics that are worlds apart, she simple says, "Storytelling in India has always been a very progressive art form, using it to explain current science and technology only seemed like a natural step to me.".
This "ABC Box" is highly addictive to use and extremely informational. Using simple electronics and mechanics, this box aims to simplify concepts of science and technology that are generally classified as "complicated". Additionally, the colours and patterns on it are mezmerizing and attract users who are not necessarily interested in these topics. I had the chance to use it myself, learning physics and mathematics, subjects I shied away from when I was in high school.
When asked what her future plans are Mathura talks of making these boxes available in homes in the forms of kits, so that kids and adults can build these boxes together and keep at their homes. She has also published guides on how to build your own boxes on her project website.