In Hindi, 'chal' is a call to action, inviting someone to join you, or walk with you. 'Chaal', on the other hand, refers to a person's gait or stride, and also denotes strategy or the next move—like moves articulating a chess game. When these words are considered together, they reveal a succinct, invaluable element of our humanity: our primaeval, innate spirit of exploration leading to action, which we began, in essence, with walking: 'Cha(a)l'.

Is it not ingrained in us to seek the unknown, to discover anew from the extant, and to connect with each other? From our earliest days, we have ventured beyond the familiar, navigating vast seas or migrating continents on foot. We are driven by a need to explore, to enquire: why, how, what's next? "If we were meant to stay in one place, we would have roots instead of feet,” as author Rachel Wolchin puts it. To walk then, is to explore.

This week, we traverse beyond physical journeys into creative strides: foremost, our video interview with the founders of Chaal·Chaal·Agency examines its quiet drive for equity and self-sufficiency via design. In our review of 'Brutalist Japan', we follow photographer Paul Tulett's exploration of Brutalism and his fascination with its polarising reception. California-based artist Maria A. Guzmán Capron reflects on her latest installations—one exploring the possibilities of assimilation, and the other which considers how we relate to and touch each other through the stuff that comprises our lives.

We've come to understand how walking is an act of personal discovery. It makes culture. Who are we walking with? What are we walking toward? And perhaps most importantly, what are we walking away with?