I Sketched at the 22nd International ODR Forum 2023
And here is how it went!
I heard about the Online Dispute Resolution Forum at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC) while working on a project with Agami as an animation designer. Interested in gaining more context on the justice space, I decided to attend the ODR Forum.
As I entered the doors of the BIC, I felt as though I had wandered into law school without taking admission— as if I had snuck in through a window and no one knew or noticed. Slightly lost but somewhat enthusiastic, I decided to be a quiet backbencher, going from one conversation to another and keeping an open and receptive mind to learn as much as possible.
Having a layperson’s understanding of the legal space and with several sessions going on in parallel, it was quite a lot of new information for me to take in over two days. A method I use to record and process what I hear at a discussion is sketchnoting.
Sketchnote
(v.) a form of creative and visual note taking. It combines a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-lettering, shapes, etc. by which an individual can record their thoughts and understanding of a subject or topic.
Aside from recording to study, sketchnoting helps me maintain attention and immerse myself in the concepts being expressed by the speaker. It involves listening to the words, tone, and information conveyed in the speech, then comprehending that speech and constructing meanings. The sense-making is done through doodling and connecting the mind to paper to record the ideas communicated by the speaker. This takes the form of symbols, structures, illustrations and text with a pen in a (preferably) unruled notebook, so I was quite pleased when the welcome kit provided me with a blank notepad.
I picked up snippets of conversations and presentations by different speakers in my sketchbook. I tried a combination of human figure sketching juxtaposed with text. The text is the subject matter which was being talked about. I also noted vital phrases and new concepts for myself to study later.
The Forum expanded my idea about justice, how justice is experienced and influenced by the power dynamics between different groups of humans, and how technology solves and creates new problems. Documenting my observations through sketchnoting was a perfect way to sum up all that I was seeing, feeling and attempting to understand as a layperson at the Forum!
On Recording Memories
On the second night of the Forum, Maati Baani, a fusion band, performed in the auditorium. The lights were dim, but that didn’t stop me from attempting to sketch them playing on stage. I tried to capture the essence of their poses and their energy. It wasn’t just the musicians performing, but also sign language interpreters translating their lyrics in real-time, which was captivating! I have never witnessed Indian sign language interpreters translate a song; I had to record the memory. In my sketch, they are the two people on the far right of the page (above).
I remembered how a friend once playfully teased me, saying, “What are you gonna do, draw yourself some friends?”
The answer is yes!
In each session, I had chosen a comfortable, inconspicuous vantage point with a good view of what was happening and began sketchnoting. Sometimes, it was very apparent to others that I was sketching. The repetitive movements of my head, looking up at the subject I was drawing and back down at the paper, gave it away. This tended to draw attention to me and changed the scene’s energy. I wanted to be discreet and not disrupt the flow of the sessions. I was convinced I was invisible until; eventually, I was approached by Samridhi, a student, who asked to take my picture. I happily agreed; it was nice to be noticed doing what I enjoy and take back a memory of me attending the Forum. She connected with me on Instagram later and sent me the photos she had taken of me.
Later in the evening, a few more attendees noticed me sketching, and the sketches became an icebreaker leading into conversations about the Forum.
With my conversations, I realised that gatherings like the Forum have a way of re-energising and reminding people about why they do what they do. It was heartening to observe law students, technologists, judges, NGOs, and other stakeholders engage with complex problems in justice and share knowledge so generously and passionately!
It was a space for everyone to redefine their personal and collective goals, form new relationships, connect with the community, address problems and examine issues in the justice field. As I write this post, the sketches aid me in recalling the atmosphere in that time and space, allowing me to reflect on the memories I have made.
Here’s a glimpse of the ODR Forum 2023!
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