Nowhere but here, is a military parachute fabricated from soldiers’ thermal clothing, stitched together to form a parachute’s canopy. This abandoned soft sculpture takes its starting point from the artist’s previous large-scale installation titled, “We waited for days, but no sign of hope…”, 2009, which consists of an army-supply parachute placed in between an intimidating barricade of sand-filled nylon bags.

Nowhere but here, continues to explore the use of the parachute as a metaphor for conflict. Nylon cords and metal rings that are attached to this parachute, connect to the supply box, which is a crucial container that carries life-sustaining goods to soldiers. The supply parachute is also constructed with a vent in the canopy which allows for a slower and controlled descent. However, due to sudden changes in wind patterns, these parachutes drift from their targets and are often found abandoned on the glacier or suspended from cliffs. When retrievable, it takes days for soldiers to locate them.

The thermal clothing metaphorically draws a connection to the hot air currents, that interacts with the parachute when descending towards a hopeful and unexpected destination. The stitching together of army gear suggest the solidarity and strength of the soldiers on the glacier. As part of the isolated world of the Siachen soldier, the supply parachute is seen as a symbol of hope and connection to the outside world. During these unstable times, when destinations are often unclear, a soldier’s survival depends on his consciousness of being nowhere but here.