2007–Ongoing
Since 1984, India and Pakistan have been zealously guarding their territories on the Siachen Glacier. This protracted conflict over the glacier’s ownership has been fought at an altitude of 17,000 feet, making it the coldest battlefield on earth, with temperatures plunging to -60°C. In 2007, Baptist began researching this glacial conflict, developing a substantial body of work across various mediums, which has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions worldwide. His artworks reveal the paradox of heroism when confronted with brutal cold and the perils of unresolved border tensions.
In 2009, Baptist presented a solo exhibition, “You can’t afford to have emotions out there…” at the Visual Arts Gallery, Delhi, and Project 88, Mumbai. This exhibition focused on the life of the soldier—not as a machine of war, but as a man with vulnerabilities—serving up to three months on the glacier. In 2015, he presented another solo exhibition, thread by thread, at the Goethe-Zentrum, Hyderabad and the Ladakh Arts and Media Organization (LAMO), Leh. This exhibition drew inspiration from the various fabrics worn by Siachen soldiers while enduring the harsh conditions of the glacier.
Continuing his research in 2016, Baptist explored archives and historical materials related to the glacier before it became a conflict zone in 1984. From this research, he developed a large-scale installation for the three-person exhibition Traces of War at Somerset House, London. His research also highlights the experiences of Ladakhi porters who assist Indian soldiers and officers stationed on the glacier. In 2019, a selection of photographs from this research was featured in his solo exhibition Body-Automaton at JSLH Gallery, Sonipat. In 2024, Baptist presented It still hasn’t ended as a solo exhibition at Bâtiment IV, Esch-sur-Alzette, emphasizing the persistent and never-ending saga of border tensions. The Siachen project remains ongoing, continually expanding as his research evolves and unfolds. – Updated Feb 2025
