Performance has been the mode of effective communication, expression, entertainment and creative response since the dawn of human civilization. Still, it is to our wonder that the gender specificity of this very topic “Women in Performance” makes sense in 2020 AD. Ironically, as the civilizations have progressed, the gender specific restrictions occupy the space for free expressions in many forms. Women were not only shamed or banned to participate in performance as ‘performers’ or even ‘audiences’ over centuries, but the representation of women has been very specific in the content and in manifestation which still has its prevalence in performance.
After the prominent feminist movements through twentieth and twenty first century, while reclaiming social and legal space for agency in life, education, individuality, sexuality, against gender specified violation and crimes et al; women and other genders have taken prominent place in the world of performances, not to support the narratives of the patriarchal normative, but to speak up the knowledge, experience in their own expression giving the whole a very new perspective to look from.
In 2020, where does India stand with the very topic theme ‘Women in Performance’! The impact of the journey that the gender identity made through history, how that legacy gets carried forward through current practices! What impact does it make in form of expressions, narratives, language, business or on the audiences/ spectators! As a research and development centre for art, Kolkata Centre for Creativity aims to open up such discourses in the first annual conference on Performing Arts, named Performing Performance 2020. Theme of this year is “Women in Performance”.
The discussion is broadly divided into two subthemes
1. Body in Performance
2. Agency in Performance
With multiple cultural variables existing in a neo-liberal post-postmodern time, the annual conference of KCC aims to open up a space for exchange of thoughts, researches, experiments and practices regarding gender identity, politics of body, performativity of body, evolution of language, agency and gaze along with the economic aspects related with performances of, about, by and for women, historically and in contemporary context. Invited Scholars and Practitioners will present their works about those subthemes.
Day 1
Body in Performance
September 4
18:00 - 20:00 hrs. IST
Keynote Speaker:
Lubna Marium: Dancer, Art-Director & Cultural Activist
Speakers:
Dr Bishnupriya Dutt: Professor of Theatre & Performance Studies, SAA, JNU
Dr Urmimala Sarkar Munsi: Dancer-Choreographer & Associate Professor in School of Arts & Aesthetics, JNU.
Dr Trina Nileena Banerjee: Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
Moderator:
Meghna Bhardwaj: Dancer-choreographer & Assistant Professor at Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
Day 2:
Agency in Performance
September 5
18:00 - 20:00 hrs. IST
Keynote Speaker:
Dr Ananya Chatterjea: Professor of Dance at University of Minnesota, USA, Choreographer & Artistic-Director, Ananya Dance Theatre
Speakers:
Dr Anuradha Kapur: Theatre Director & Professor of Drama, Former Director of National School of Drama
Dr Urmimala Sarkar Munsi: Dancer-Choreographer & Associate Professor in School of Arts & Aesthetics, JNU
Zuleikha Chaudhari: Theatre Director & Lighting Designer, Director of the Alkazi Theatre Archives at The Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, New Delhi.
Moderator:
Dr Trina Nileena Banerjee: Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
Looking back over recent times, in which the Covid-19 pandemic swept the whole world to a virtual standstill, the third edition Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam explored topics including education, art production and policy, mental health, commerce, activism and the environment. It continues to be an extraordinary and unpredictable time—one that modern human civilization has rarely encountered on such a global scale. Many of the things that we took for granted have been taken away, or at least paused indefinitely. Businesses have been shuttered, domestic and international travel has stopped, and the socially driven human practice of gathering has been suddenly halted. As humans sheltered for a while, under lockdowns the world over, nature took its chance to rejuvenate and flourish. Despite this, in those frozen moments of uncertainty, so much has ensued. New possibilities have been imagined and created. As we continue the process of containment and recovery from the pandemic, we stand at a crossroads, and many new pathways now seem possible. Not many things have remained as we had previously expected. The third edition of the annual conference of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam at Kolkata Centre for Creativity, therefore, aimed to look back, whilst also conjecturing future possibilities. KCC invited practitioners, experts and the public to gather together to rediscover the treasures that could arise from these continuing moments of gloom and desperation, allowing us the possibility to build a better and more equitable future for our planet. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam 2021 also built upon the two previous editions of the annual conference, which began in 2019. Outcomes from Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam continue to inform our progress at the Kolkata Centre of Creativity and we look forward to inviting physical and online audiences in India and around the world to join us once again. |
Day 1
1. Art Policy
The decimation of the economy took a heavy toll on the field of art and art commerce. Immediately after the break out of the pandemic, most funding organizations and agencies stalled their support and many sponsorships and grants were stopped or delayed indefinitely. The total halt to live performance and physical exhibitions have left many art practitioners and artisans’ jobless and underemployed.
What changes can be made to government art policies that may help art recover from this challenging situation? What can institutions and galleries do to help the sector and what are the new protocols and standards we should aspire toward?
2. Digitalization of the Arts
As soon as physical gatherings were restricted due to new pandemic regulations, live performances also had to be reimagined or cancelled altogether. However, the artistes’ community did not sit idly by, they began exploring the virtual realm. Through the mediation of cameras and Internet connections, artists began developing their homes into performance spaces. Many different kinds of experiments began to take place. On one hand, this trend hints towards the development of new media and digital art, on the other, it raises questions about the agency of creators, audiences and mediators in this time of crises. The fear of state censorship also raises many questions for performers and artists, as does the economic effects upon performers and venues.
What is the direction of digital performance and how will this affect the tradition of live performance? What impact will digital performances have on the livelihoods of artists and how will they be remunerated for their performances? Is the digital realm a viable alternative to public performances and who stands to benefit the most?
3. Education
a) Rehabilitation of children
Education is considered as one of the 6 fundamental rights according to the Constitution of India. Schools run by the state in India are not only institutes that provide education, but they also play a major role in child rehabilitation, whilst keeping track of the dropouts and child labour infringements laws. Schools help our society in preventing child trafficking, child abuse and other dangers young people face in the country. Schools provide a mid-day meal, a system that ensures that basic nutrition needs for rural and urban underprivileged children are met. When the lock-down happened this system was adversely affected. While the gap of a year in formal education is something manageable, deterioration of the other infrastructure and services is extremely alarming for the future of a growing nation.
What strategies can we utilize to rehabilitate the schooling system irrespective of re-opening of schools? What methods are being developed to bring children back to the childhoods they deserve? What can the art fraternity do to help improve children’s lives during this difficult time? What does the future of education in State-run schools in India look like?
b) Mental health in Education
As the pandemic affected the education system in India, it also clearly showed the ineffectiveness of digitalization in India. The pandemic affected not only students, but also teachers and policy makers, all of whom suffered in different ways. Hence, it is important to ponder on the mental health of students, teachers and managers and also analyze the special education system in this context.
How are these stakeholders dealing with the situation? How did the pandemic affect education groups and how are they sustaining themselves during this period? Whilst we are exploring special education, we also need to learn and listen to parents, teachers, students and NGO’s in the sector.
Day 2
Activism
4. Protest against discriminatory oppression
In the background of the protests against discriminatory CAA and NRC laws in India, the Coronavirus broke out. The movement was unique in its expression as it took various artistic actions to convey its political agenda.
Likewise, during the COVID pandemic, and after the sad demise of George Floyd at the hands of US police, a global anti-racist movement spread through the world in the name of ‘Black Lives Matter’. That movement also used different artistic approaches, including the use of performance, music and social-media to promote its viewpoint.
These may not be isolated phenomena developed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Art has always been a weapon of the oppressed to protest against discriminatory oppression.
These movements also bring about the age-old debate about the purpose and efficacy of art in achieving political aims.
What is the significance of the arts in bringing expression to activism?
How has art inspired and influenced contemporary activism in India?
What is the anthropological connection between Art and Human Rights that facilitates, nurtures and explains this phenomenon?
5. Environment & Sustainability in Arts
When the world stopped – the natural world flourished. As we were restricted to our man-made habitats the natural world fought back to reclaim the seas, skies and forests – free from our polluting infiltrations.
Now as we begin returning to our previous rhythms and habits, the arts sector has also started opening up fairs and festival opportunities, leading to increased travel.
What learning’s from the ‘frozen moments’ can we continue implementing in the art world, especially in the celebrations of arts – the festivals, biennales and carnivals? How can we make post-COVID-19 art gatherings more sustainable for the environment?
6. Commerce
The growing market of festivals, fairs and biennales received a big jolt due to the sudden halt caused by Covid-19 crisis. While they are essential to keep the wheels of the Art Economy running, their numbers and frequency are mounting pressure on resources, both economic and ecological. Since some of them had a tryst with a complete Digital platform this year, probably we are ready to relook and rediscover them differently.
How viable Hybrid formats are? Can we restructure them to cover up for the reduction in physical interactions? Who will decide how much is enough? Can some policies be formed to weave-in factors that ensure environmental sustainability? Is it possible to merge some of them to reduce the overall number?
Selected Paper:
Author’s Name:
- Dr. Shubhra Nag
- Nobina Gupta & Saptarshi Mitra
- Mansav Arora & Vanika Saberwal
- Dr. Rinita Mazumdar
Full paper submit to : submission@kcc.akst.org.in
FEES
Registration Fee Indian nationals: INR 1500
South East Asian Countries: USD 30
Other Nations: USD 50
Early Bird Discount valid till 20th Feb 2021: 30%
Student Discount: 50%
Build Learn Upgrade Empower
KCC BLUE is our training and capacity-building platform that engages with participants ranging from children, young students, emerging artists, art managers, professional artists and enthusiasts.Through various well-curated programs and appreciation courses designed for the concerned groups and led by panels of experts and experienced faculties, the program exposes the participants to different disciplines of art and craft practices. Besides honing skills, it also encourages critical thinking and creative engagement.A recent addition to our partners has been University of Jammu, Central University, Jammu.
The fourth edition of KCC’s annual international conference Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (or VK) for the study of environmental action in the context of the Upanishadic doctrine of ‘The World is our Home’ or ‘The World is One Family’ was held over a period of two days, 7th and 8th May, at Kolkata Centre for Creativity. The conference commenced with Richa Agarwal, Chairperson of KCC, invited everyone to–– quite unexpectedly, but aptly–– disobey. And a discourse in disobedience is what ensued over the weekend with speakers from all over India sharing their experiences in challenging the accepted dysfunctional norm and questioning futile mainstream practices. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’s theme for 2022 was ‘Solidarity in a Time of Crises’. This edition of VK shed light on and initiated conversations on the 17th Sustainable Development Goal. The Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, were adopted by the United Nations as a universal call to action to ensure eradication of poverty and adoption of sustainable measures to protect the planet for the future generations by the year 2030. 17 goals were adopted which are integrated with each other. A wide range of sub themes were covered, and they were increasingly layered as the sciences and the arts melted into one another, as questions of ethics and philosophy revealed themselves in social welfare ventures, and as nuanced differences in ideology created friction in the context of cultural productions. The speakers, all environmentalists at heart, came from varied backgrounds and walks of life, which enabled a holistic and potent atmosphere for the conference. Speakers like Ajay Mittal, while on the one hand, gave us a thorough statistical analysis of the environmental deterioration and the damaging consequences of an unbalanced capitalistic society, speakers like Pauline Laravoire presented us with a comprehensive set of tools to be more effective and efficient when striving to meet any of the SDGs.
Solidarity in a Time of Crises
In a moment of increasing awareness about the uncertainty, yet urgency, of accelerated resource depletion, the pandemic and its economic consequences – how do we overcome our feelings of helplessness and insufficient progress?
We believe that the 2030 17 SDG’s (17 Goals) can only be realized with strong partnerships and cooperation across socio-economic groups.
A successful development agenda requires inclusive collaboration — at the global, regional, national and local levels — rather than a top down approach. Therefore these partnerships should be built upon ethical principles and shared values, and an agenda placing people and the planet at the center.
Partnerships between private and public bodies and communities bring our goals closer to achievement. To this end (and beginning) VK IV has invited a diverse range of partner organisations and interdisciplinary practitioners from a range of disciplines and backgrounds to explore these concepts and to initiate new modes of engagement and action.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Mr Gurudas Nulkar
Gurudas is a teacher by profession and ecologist by passion. His Ph.D. in sustainability within industrial ecosystems was followed by the Post-doctoral Endeavour Fellowship of the Government of Australia. He is the Sir Ratan Tata Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru.
Gurudas has published four books, several research papers, monographs, and articles. His Marathi Book "Anartha Shashtra" has been awarded the Maharashtra State Literature "C.D.Deshmukh award for economic literature". He is currently working on three river restoration projects in Maharashtra and is part of an expert group studying the landslides and floods in the Konkan region. He has worked on several United Nations projects. Gurudas is on the board of Ecological Society, Pune, and heads the Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, at the Symbiosis International University, Pune. See gurudas-n.com
Gurudas has published four books, several research papers, monographs, and articles. His Marathi Book "Anartha Shashtra" has been awarded the Maharashtra State Literature "C.D.Deshmukh award for economic literature". He is currently working on three river restoration projects in Maharashtra and is part of an expert group studying the landslides and floods in the Konkan region. He has worked on several United Nations projects. Gurudas is on the board of Ecological Society, Pune, and heads the Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability, at the Symbiosis International University, Pune. See gurudas-n.com
Mr Parmesh Shahani
Parmesh Shahani (pronouns: he/him) is an author, culture curator, and LGBTQIA inclusion advocate. Most recently he founded and ran the Godrej India Culture Lab in Mumbai (www.indiaculturelab.org) between 2011-21. He has been a TED Senior Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Yale World Fellow, and is presently a board member of KHOJ and Breakthrough India. Parmesh's recent book Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in Corporate India was released in September 2020 (Westland Publications) and won the CK Prahalad award for Best Business Book of 2021, and his first book Gay Bombay: Globalization, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India (Sage Publications) was released in 2008 and re-published in June 2020 as an updated edition. See parmesh.net
Parmesh Shahani (pronouns: he/him) is an author, culture curator, and LGBTQIA inclusion advocate. Most recently he founded and ran the Godrej India Culture Lab in Mumbai (www.indiaculturelab.org) between 2011-21. He has been a TED Senior Fellow, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Yale World Fellow, and is presently a board member of KHOJ and Breakthrough India. Parmesh's recent book Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion in Corporate India was released in September 2020 (Westland Publications) and won the CK Prahalad award for Best Business Book of 2021, and his first book Gay Bombay: Globalization, Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India (Sage Publications) was released in 2008 and re-published in June 2020 as an updated edition. See parmesh.net
SPEAKERS
Ms Aparna Rao
Since 2004, Aparna Rao is part of Pors & Rao, a Bangalore based art duo working with objects and installations that often incorporate lifelike physical movement and responsive behaviours. Many of the works are conceived as a kind of 'being' with basic behaviour patterns such as shyness, fatigue and dependence, highlighting involuntary aspects of human behaviour and relationships. Their work has been included at Setouchi Triennale, Japan; Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India; Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland; Nam June Paik Art Center, South Korea and The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, Norway.
The frustrations they faced over a period of 15 years while working with robotic technologies, created the basis of project PATHOS: a set of tools developed to realize a high degree of nuance in robotic animation and responsive behaviors, radically accessible through a browser interface. The project specifically explores how life-like animatronics can suggest complex inner states in inanimate objects. The toolkit itself consists of a set of mechatronic modules and software interfaces that are reliable and easy to use, especially for non engineers. PATHOS began informally within the academic environment in Switzerland in 2015, took the shape of an Artist in Residence project at the Wyss Zurich institute and is now an experimental project at ETHZ, as the Robotics Aesthetics & Usability Center (RAUC). The aim of the RAUC is to connect robotics to visual arts.
The frustrations they faced over a period of 15 years while working with robotic technologies, created the basis of project PATHOS: a set of tools developed to realize a high degree of nuance in robotic animation and responsive behaviors, radically accessible through a browser interface. The project specifically explores how life-like animatronics can suggest complex inner states in inanimate objects. The toolkit itself consists of a set of mechatronic modules and software interfaces that are reliable and easy to use, especially for non engineers. PATHOS began informally within the academic environment in Switzerland in 2015, took the shape of an Artist in Residence project at the Wyss Zurich institute and is now an experimental project at ETHZ, as the Robotics Aesthetics & Usability Center (RAUC). The aim of the RAUC is to connect robotics to visual arts.
Mr Ravi Agarwal
Ravi is active on Facebook (facebook.com/ravig64/) and Instagram (instagram.com/ravig64/) – so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Mr Ajay Mittal
Ajay Mittal is the Director of Climate Change Programs for South and South East Asia. He leads EDN’s Climate Change programs. These include several that focus on clean and green energies such as ‘Each One Save One’, that calls upon citizens to save a minimum of one Watt of Energy leading to a combined number that runs into millions. ‘Healthy Energy’ reaches out to rural women to help them adopt non-fossil fuels. ‘Make A Bright Choice’ works to get citizens to make a change to energy-saving light bulbs. ‘Low Carbon Lifestyles’ helps youth reduce their carbon footprints. ‘Farmers For Earth’ encourages environment-friendly agricultural practices such as adopting solar for Irrigation. ‘Solar for Schools’ helps academic institutions switch to renewable energy use. Ajay also works towards ensuring better air quality in India. In 2017 he initiated the movement Kolkata Clean Air which has grown into Active Citizens Together for Sustainability that works towards a citizen-state partnership model to build sustainable cities. His efforts have been widely recognized by the media.
Presently he is working on a campaign to bring back cycling as a means of transport in Indian cities. For all of these, Ajay reaches out to his vast networks of organizations and individuals as meaningful partners to support each of the initiatives. Ajay also has responsibility for the ‘Star Villages’ campaign. This recognizes villages in India that successfully implement noteworthy environmental practices in their areas.
Ajay is a born activist. He is passionate about scaling up social solutions using technology, innovation and simplicity. Ajay is with the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Ajay has been recognized as an EE 30 Under 30 leaders 2019 cohort by the North American Association for Environmental Education. Ajay also works on helping reduce water wastage. The Government of India named him a ‘Water Hero’ for his efforts in water conservation.Ajay is active on Instagram (@) and Facebook & LinkedIn (@) – so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Presently he is working on a campaign to bring back cycling as a means of transport in Indian cities. For all of these, Ajay reaches out to his vast networks of organizations and individuals as meaningful partners to support each of the initiatives. Ajay also has responsibility for the ‘Star Villages’ campaign. This recognizes villages in India that successfully implement noteworthy environmental practices in their areas.
Ajay is a born activist. He is passionate about scaling up social solutions using technology, innovation and simplicity. Ajay is with the Climate Action Steering Committee of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Ajay has been recognized as an EE 30 Under 30 leaders 2019 cohort by the North American Association for Environmental Education. Ajay also works on helping reduce water wastage. The Government of India named him a ‘Water Hero’ for his efforts in water conservation.Ajay is active on Instagram (@) and Facebook & LinkedIn (@) – so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Mr Adrian Notz
Adrian Notz is a curator at the ‘ETH AI Center’ and the ‘Tichy Ocean Foundation’. He is also a mentor for the creative strategy and vision at the ‘European Center for Contemporary Art’, Cluj and ‘Chevalier de la Tombe de Bakunin’. He was the artistic director of ‘Cabaret Voltaire', Zurich (2012-2019) and headed the ‘Department for Fine Arts at the School of Design’ in St. Gallen (2010 - 2015). He has organized and curated numerous exhibitions, events, conferences and interventions with international artists, activists and thinkers.
Adrian Notz is a curator at the ‘ETH AI Center’ and the ‘Tichy Ocean Foundation’. He is also a mentor for the creative strategy and vision at the ‘European Center for Contemporary Art’, Cluj and ‘Chevalier de la Tombe de Bakunin’. He was the artistic director of ‘Cabaret Voltaire', Zurich (2012-2019) and headed the ‘Department for Fine Arts at the School of Design’ in St. Gallen (2010 - 2015). He has organized and curated numerous exhibitions, events, conferences and interventions with international artists, activists and thinkers.
Mr Aric Chen
Aric Chen is General and Artistic Director of Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Dutch national institute and museum for architecture, design and digital culture in Rotterdam. American-born, Chen previously served as Professor and founding Director of the Curatorial Lab at the College of Design & Innovation at Tongji University in Shanghai; Curatorial Director of the Design Miami fairs in Miami Beach and Basel; Creative Director of Beijing Design Week; and Lead Curator for Design and Architecture at M+, Hong Kong, where he oversaw the formation of that new museum’s design and architecture collection and program.
In addition, Chen has curated dozens of museum exhibitions and other projects internationally, served on numerous boards and juries, and acted as advisor to the UABB Shenzhen Biennale of Architecture\Urbanism, London Design Biennial, Cooper-Hewitt Design Triennial (New York), and Gwangju Design Biennale. He is the author of Brazil Modern (Monacelli, 2016), and has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Wallpaper*, Architectural Record, and other publications.
Aric is active on Instagram (@aricchen) – so please follow him there for more recent updates.
In addition, Chen has curated dozens of museum exhibitions and other projects internationally, served on numerous boards and juries, and acted as advisor to the UABB Shenzhen Biennale of Architecture\Urbanism, London Design Biennial, Cooper-Hewitt Design Triennial (New York), and Gwangju Design Biennale. He is the author of Brazil Modern (Monacelli, 2016), and has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times, Wallpaper*, Architectural Record, and other publications.
Aric is active on Instagram (@aricchen) – so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Mr Mrinal Mandal
Mrinal Mandal, a visual artist from Kolkata, is the founder of ‘Chalchitra Academy’. The primary aim of this initiative is to disseminate knowledge about various dying art forms in our country. Its venture - 'Khwabgaon', is an ongoing project with the Lodha-Sabar marginalized community. He has been working towards tapping the raw talent of the local children and has arranged regular classes and workshops to facilitate their art education. He has also incorporated skill-building initiatives to empower and build a self-sustaining ecosystem for them. He has held four solo shows and has engaged in a site-specific installation project titled 'Roots', highlighting the devastating impact of socio-political factors on ecology. He has also worked as an assistant art director with Shyam Benegal on the film ‘Bose: The Forgotten Hero’. His works have won multiple awards, such as the 'Govt. Art College Award', the 'Gaganendranath Tagore memorial Award' and the 'Gopal Ghose Memorial Scholarship'. During the pandemic, he worked as a resource person for a UNICEF funded public awareness project led by Jadavpur University.
Mrinal Mandal, a visual artist from Kolkata, is the founder of ‘Chalchitra Academy’. The primary aim of this initiative is to disseminate knowledge about various dying art forms in our country. Its venture - 'Khwabgaon', is an ongoing project with the Lodha-Sabar marginalized community. He has been working towards tapping the raw talent of the local children and has arranged regular classes and workshops to facilitate their art education. He has also incorporated skill-building initiatives to empower and build a self-sustaining ecosystem for them. He has held four solo shows and has engaged in a site-specific installation project titled 'Roots', highlighting the devastating impact of socio-political factors on ecology. He has also worked as an assistant art director with Shyam Benegal on the film ‘Bose: The Forgotten Hero’. His works have won multiple awards, such as the 'Govt. Art College Award', the 'Gaganendranath Tagore memorial Award' and the 'Gopal Ghose Memorial Scholarship'. During the pandemic, he worked as a resource person for a UNICEF funded public awareness project led by Jadavpur University.
Mr K. S. Radhakrishnan
K. S. RadhakrishnanK. S. Radhakrishnan is a well-known sculptor and is recognized as one of the most significant figures of contemporary Indian art. He was awarded a research grant by ‘Lalit Kala Akademi’, Delhi, to work in Garhi Village. Since then has had more than fifteen solo shows, including at ‘National Gallery of Modern Art’ (Bengaluru), ‘Centre des Bords de Marne’, ‘LePerreux-Brysur-Marne’ (France), and ‘Birla Academy of Art and Culture’ (Kolkata) amongst others. His work has been displayed in numerous group shows, including - the ‘National Exhibition’ in New Delhi; ‘Triennalle India’; ‘Salon International de la Sculpture Contemporaine’, Paris and many more. From the 1980s onwards, he has installed open-air sculptures across the country and abroad, including at the ‘TMI foundation’, ‘Cotignac’, France. He has curated the exhibition ‘Ramkinkar Baij - A Retrospective at National Gallery of Modern Art', New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. He has written a book titled Ramkinkar’s Yaksha Yakshi.
K. S. RadhakrishnanK. S. Radhakrishnan is a well-known sculptor and is recognized as one of the most significant figures of contemporary Indian art. He was awarded a research grant by ‘Lalit Kala Akademi’, Delhi, to work in Garhi Village. Since then has had more than fifteen solo shows, including at ‘National Gallery of Modern Art’ (Bengaluru), ‘Centre des Bords de Marne’, ‘LePerreux-Brysur-Marne’ (France), and ‘Birla Academy of Art and Culture’ (Kolkata) amongst others. His work has been displayed in numerous group shows, including - the ‘National Exhibition’ in New Delhi; ‘Triennalle India’; ‘Salon International de la Sculpture Contemporaine’, Paris and many more. From the 1980s onwards, he has installed open-air sculptures across the country and abroad, including at the ‘TMI foundation’, ‘Cotignac’, France. He has curated the exhibition ‘Ramkinkar Baij - A Retrospective at National Gallery of Modern Art', New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. He has written a book titled Ramkinkar’s Yaksha Yakshi.
Mr Ajay Dalmia
DLRC is a K-12 learning space buzzing with exploration, experimentations and creation that value nature and its every creation big and small. A space where experiences of the head, heart and hands are extended to others who have embarked on the lifelong journey of learning and doing. In our nature inspired structures, some of our ongoing programs are: Internship / Design Lab / Self Directed Learning / Higher Learning Dialogue / Teacher Development Programs. See:dlrc.in
Instagram (instagram.com/dlrc_pune/)
YouTube (youtube.com/channel/UC2HUaySZnwGcgWQX6BVbKkg/videos)
Facebook (facebook.com/dlrcpune)
Mr Divya Bhatia
Divya Bhatia is a versatile arts professional with experience across a variety of disciplines. He is an independent festival programmer and producer, performing arts consultant and actor. He is Artistic Director and Producer of Jodhpur RIFF, India’s premiere folk/ jazz/ roots music festival; Artistic Consultant at ComplexCity, a festival in Mumbai produced by YUVA; visiting faculty for Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London UK and India partner for their International Collaborative Outreach program; faculty at the South Asia Festivals Academy. He regularly presents and produces/ co-produces international music and theatre projects out of India, having toured artists in India, UK, South Africa, Europe, China and Australia. Divya has served on the Jury of WOMEX in 2019 and is on the global jury for the Aga Khan Music Awards 2022. Based in Mumbai, his other interests include contemporary dance, film, trekking, travelling and politics.
Divya is active on Instagram (@divyapkb) and Facebook (@divyakumarbhatia)– so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Divya is active on Instagram (@divyapkb) and Facebook (@divyakumarbhatia)– so please follow him there for more recent updates.
Dr. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty
Dr. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty, IAS (retired in the rank of Secretary, Govt. of India), M.A. (Kolkata), M.P.A. (Harvard), Ph.D., Fine Arts (Harvard), is President, People's Council of Education, Allahabad and Distinguished Professor, Centre for Knowledge Societies, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha.
Dr. Chakravarty has been Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi; Director General, National Museum; Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi; Chairman, National Screening and Evaluation Committee, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI); Director, National Museum of Mankind (IGRMS), Bhopal; and Chancellor, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). He has headed the Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management (DIHRM) as Vice Chairman. He has also chaired the Bhasha Trust, Baroda.His publications include exhibition catalogues, edited journals on Art, books and articles on Family, Tribal Identity, Indigeneity, Education, Rock Art, Folk and Tribal Art, Khajuraho, Gwalior Fort, Orccha, Bodhgaya, Ujjayini, Vidisha, New Museology, Archaeology, Indology and Sanskritic traditions. Dr. Chakravarty has reinvented cognitive categories; nurtured relations among cultures, disciplines and arts; strategised culture specific governance and diplomacy; restored vanishing links of cultural, linguistic, biological diversity; regenerated community habitats as living museums; and rebuilt crumbling bridges between culture and development. He is known for fusing theory and practice in promoting cultural survival, environmental self-determination and sustainable knowledge systems of marginalized communities.
Dr. Chakravarty has been Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi; Director General, National Museum; Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi; Chairman, National Screening and Evaluation Committee, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI); Director, National Museum of Mankind (IGRMS), Bhopal; and Chancellor, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). He has headed the Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management (DIHRM) as Vice Chairman. He has also chaired the Bhasha Trust, Baroda.His publications include exhibition catalogues, edited journals on Art, books and articles on Family, Tribal Identity, Indigeneity, Education, Rock Art, Folk and Tribal Art, Khajuraho, Gwalior Fort, Orccha, Bodhgaya, Ujjayini, Vidisha, New Museology, Archaeology, Indology and Sanskritic traditions. Dr. Chakravarty has reinvented cognitive categories; nurtured relations among cultures, disciplines and arts; strategised culture specific governance and diplomacy; restored vanishing links of cultural, linguistic, biological diversity; regenerated community habitats as living museums; and rebuilt crumbling bridges between culture and development. He is known for fusing theory and practice in promoting cultural survival, environmental self-determination and sustainable knowledge systems of marginalized communities.
Ms Pauline Laravoire
Pauline Laravoire is the co-founder of 'AQWA' and 'Y-East' and the Director of 'Techno India Group'. She strives to create learning and professional opportunities for students in the sustainability sector. Being associated with the following community-based ventures: 'Youth for Sustainability India Alliance' and 'Learning Planet’, she has developed expertise and a passion for building greener communities.
Pauline Laravoire is the co-founder of 'AQWA' and 'Y-East' and the Director of 'Techno India Group'. She strives to create learning and professional opportunities for students in the sustainability sector. Being associated with the following community-based ventures: 'Youth for Sustainability India Alliance' and 'Learning Planet’, she has developed expertise and a passion for building greener communities.
Ms Aditi Ghose
Trained in Chemistry at Graduation, did Masters in Environmental Science, completed Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications and another Masters in the same discipline. All along, the objective was to develop a broad-based understanding of science, doing by practising, and knowing the tools, while communicating it as often I get the opportunity. Writing on any subject worth telling about is a vocation I wish and try to pursue. Cultivate a keen interest in multimedia techniques for scientific visualization.
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Mr Subha Sankar Ghosh
I am a nature lover who believes that nothing compares with the beauty of nature. My mission in life is to spread awareness about the environment among the impressionable minds, employing methods that are little different from conventional methods.
Presently I am working as a curator at Science City, Kolkata which is a unit of the National Council of Science Museum, Government of India. Professionally I have done MPhil and MBA in Human Resource Management. Before that I did my Post Graduation and B.Ed in Life Sciences. At the beginning of my career, I taught senior students for about 10 years before moving into the field of science museums.
Mr Saket Singh Kaurav
Saket Singh Kaurav did his M.Sc. in Physics from the Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research in Physics & Electronics, Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur in 2007. He has worked as a junior research fellow in the Infrared Astronomy Group of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai from 2008 to 2010. He also did an internship in the Infrared/Submillimeter Astronomy Group of Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Munich, Germany from January 2010 to March 2010. In 2010, He joined the National Council of Science Museums (Hqrs), Kolkata, a scientific autonomous non-profit organisation, functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, as a curator (a scientific position) and worked there till Jan 2013. From Feb 2013 to Sept 2020, He worked at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, and from Oct 2020 to till now, he is working at Regional Science Centre, Bhopal. He is a curator having experience of 11 plus years in conceptualising, designing, developing, and coordinating thematic and travelling science exhibitions, exhibits, educational programmes and activities for the public in general and students & teachers in particular towards dissemination of science & technology. He has conceptualised and curated four travelling exhibitions namely 'Beyond the Limit: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar', 'Disaster: Preparing for the worst', 'Planet Under Pressure' and 'The Future of the Food: Pulses'. He has also conceptualised and curated a thematic science gallery 'Hall of Aviation and Space' at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, which was part of major renovation & up-gradation, and financially supported by the Airports Authority of India. He has participated in the conference(s) and workshops. He has also published researched papers in leading science journal, and wrote popular science articles in leading popular science magazines and newspapers in Hindi and English languages for the dissemination of science & technology.
Saket Singh Kaurav did his M.Sc. in Physics from the Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research in Physics & Electronics, Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur in 2007. He has worked as a junior research fellow in the Infrared Astronomy Group of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai from 2008 to 2010. He also did an internship in the Infrared/Submillimeter Astronomy Group of Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Munich, Germany from January 2010 to March 2010. In 2010, He joined the National Council of Science Museums (Hqrs), Kolkata, a scientific autonomous non-profit organisation, functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, as a curator (a scientific position) and worked there till Jan 2013. From Feb 2013 to Sept 2020, He worked at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, and from Oct 2020 to till now, he is working at Regional Science Centre, Bhopal. He is a curator having experience of 11 plus years in conceptualising, designing, developing, and coordinating thematic and travelling science exhibitions, exhibits, educational programmes and activities for the public in general and students & teachers in particular towards dissemination of science & technology. He has conceptualised and curated four travelling exhibitions namely 'Beyond the Limit: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar', 'Disaster: Preparing for the worst', 'Planet Under Pressure' and 'The Future of the Food: Pulses'. He has also conceptualised and curated a thematic science gallery 'Hall of Aviation and Space' at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, which was part of major renovation & up-gradation, and financially supported by the Airports Authority of India. He has participated in the conference(s) and workshops. He has also published researched papers in leading science journal, and wrote popular science articles in leading popular science magazines and newspapers in Hindi and English languages for the dissemination of science & technology.
Speakers from Princely States
Maharajkumari Dr. Jyotsna Singh
Director for Dara Shikoh Centre for the Arts and The Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu and Kashmir, India
As Director for Dara Shikoh Centre for the Arts, Dr. Singh is an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of the region. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Delhi University, and also serves as the Director of the Amar Mahal Museum and Library in Jammu. At Almond Villa, she pursues her love for pottery and enamel design while .
Director for Dara Shikoh Centre for the Arts and The Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu and Kashmir, India
As Director for Dara Shikoh Centre for the Arts, Dr. Singh is an integral part of the social and cultural fabric of the region. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Delhi University, and also serves as the Director of the Amar Mahal Museum and Library in Jammu. At Almond Villa, she pursues her love for pottery and enamel design while .
Maharajkumari Veeranganakumari Solanki
Maharajkumari Veeranganakumari Solanki is an independent curator and writer.
She is interested in the way interdisciplinary forms and creative practices merge to create dialogues in public and private spaces and the convergence of images across disciplines. Further, her research and practice consider how historical and contemporary thought inform exhibition-making and artistic practices to expand the ideas of medium specificity through narration, memory, time and story-telling. Her curatorial discourse has focused primarily on art practices within South Asia and its diasporic context. Veerangana was the Exhibition Design Team Lead for the Kathmandu Triennale 2077 (2022), the 2019 Brooks International Research Fellow at Tate Modern and a resident at Delfina Foundation. Currently, she is the curator of Future Landing at the Serendipity Virtual Arts Festival, the Programme Director for Space Studio, Baroda and a core team member of Art Chain India.
Maharajkumari Veeranganakumari Solanki is an independent curator and writer.
She is interested in the way interdisciplinary forms and creative practices merge to create dialogues in public and private spaces and the convergence of images across disciplines. Further, her research and practice consider how historical and contemporary thought inform exhibition-making and artistic practices to expand the ideas of medium specificity through narration, memory, time and story-telling. Her curatorial discourse has focused primarily on art practices within South Asia and its diasporic context. Veerangana was the Exhibition Design Team Lead for the Kathmandu Triennale 2077 (2022), the 2019 Brooks International Research Fellow at Tate Modern and a resident at Delfina Foundation. Currently, she is the curator of Future Landing at the Serendipity Virtual Arts Festival, the Programme Director for Space Studio, Baroda and a core team member of Art Chain India.
Maharajkumari Vaishnavi Kumari
Maharajkumari Vaishnavi Kumari, Founder Studio Kishangarh.
Kishangarh is renowned for its unique style of miniature painting. A style Vaishnavi hopes to preserve through Studio Kishangarh, founded in 2010. Working with artists and their families, the studio hopes to bring a contemporary touch to the traditional art form. A graduate from institutions like National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, Vaishnavi brought academic rigour to the initiative. That, mixed with her natural inclination towards art and aesthetics, has helped her realize that we “live in a large world but can think locally”.
Maharajkumari Vaishnavi Kumari, Founder Studio Kishangarh.
Kishangarh is renowned for its unique style of miniature painting. A style Vaishnavi hopes to preserve through Studio Kishangarh, founded in 2010. Working with artists and their families, the studio hopes to bring a contemporary touch to the traditional art form. A graduate from institutions like National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, Vaishnavi brought academic rigour to the initiative. That, mixed with her natural inclination towards art and aesthetics, has helped her realize that we “live in a large world but can think locally”.
Maharajkumari Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil
Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has a BA Joint Honours degree in Archaeology and History of Art from the University of Nottingham, U.K. and an MA in Heritage Management and Conservation from Durham University, U.K. She has worked as a researcher for Durham UNESCO Chair in Lumbini, Nepal,prior to which, she worked at CSMVS Mumbai. Born into the erstwhile royal family of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Brijeshwari has been interested in the field of heritage from childhood where she was exposed to an environment of art and historically significant objects and artefacts.The exposure to her family trust, which maintains heritage hotels,historical temples and schools, led her to start the Bhavnagar Heritage. A
brand that is working with local artisans to promote the region's arts and crafts. She is currently working as the Vice President for the Mumbai based auction house Prinseps prior to which, she was working in various capacities with the Piramal Art Foundation since the inception of the Piramal Museum in 2015. A promoter for local art and craft, Brijeshwari is also working on digitising her ancestral archives and restoring various historic sites in Bhavnagar. She has recently set up the Bhavnagar INTACH Chapter and is leading as Convenor for the same.
Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil has a BA Joint Honours degree in Archaeology and History of Art from the University of Nottingham, U.K. and an MA in Heritage Management and Conservation from Durham University, U.K. She has worked as a researcher for Durham UNESCO Chair in Lumbini, Nepal,prior to which, she worked at CSMVS Mumbai. Born into the erstwhile royal family of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Brijeshwari has been interested in the field of heritage from childhood where she was exposed to an environment of art and historically significant objects and artefacts.The exposure to her family trust, which maintains heritage hotels,historical temples and schools, led her to start the Bhavnagar Heritage. A
brand that is working with local artisans to promote the region's arts and crafts. She is currently working as the Vice President for the Mumbai based auction house Prinseps prior to which, she was working in various capacities with the Piramal Art Foundation since the inception of the Piramal Museum in 2015. A promoter for local art and craft, Brijeshwari is also working on digitising her ancestral archives and restoring various historic sites in Bhavnagar. She has recently set up the Bhavnagar INTACH Chapter and is leading as Convenor for the same.
Rani Saheba Shailja Katoch
Rani Saheba Shailja Katoch, Director Kangra Group
A passionate cultural patron, she is pioneering the revival of Kangra’s history, Kangra Miniature Paintings & Kangra Cuisine(Dham) through the Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum, Kangra Fort, near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
Rani Saheba Shailja Katoch, Director Kangra Group
A passionate cultural patron, she is pioneering the revival of Kangra’s history, Kangra Miniature Paintings & Kangra Cuisine(Dham) through the Maharaja Sansar Chandra Museum, Kangra Fort, near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
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Rajkumari Nandini Singh Jhabua
Rajkumari Nandini Singh Jhabua, Gond Art Patron, Co-Founder Rising World Foundation
Devoted to preserving different art forms, she works with tribal artisans from Gond, providing them with the necessary support to develop their trade. Nandini Singh Jhabua remains connected to her roots in Madhya Pradesh (MP) through her social and aesthetic endeavours, encouraging traditional artists to experiment with contemporary themes.. Her repertoire of artists — she also encourages Islamic art — has grown in recent times, and she is taking bespoke trunk shows to various cities.
Rajkumari Nandini Singh Jhabua, Gond Art Patron, Co-Founder Rising World Foundation
Devoted to preserving different art forms, she works with tribal artisans from Gond, providing them with the necessary support to develop their trade. Nandini Singh Jhabua remains connected to her roots in Madhya Pradesh (MP) through her social and aesthetic endeavours, encouraging traditional artists to experiment with contemporary themes.. Her repertoire of artists — she also encourages Islamic art — has grown in recent times, and she is taking bespoke trunk shows to various cities.
Maharajkumar Jaidev Singh
Maharajkumar Jaidev Singh, Director Rao Madho Singh Museum Trust, Kota
A business and economics major from Cornell University, Jaidev has worked in different financial industries most recently as an investment banker with KPMG. He is passionate about hospitality, arts and culture through the historic Brijraj Bhawan Palace Hotel, a boutique property that is also home and going forward, is paving the road to put Kota on the global map. He is building inroads in promoting the Hadoti region and putting it on the map as a tourist and cultural destination.
Maharajkumar Jaidev Singh, Director Rao Madho Singh Museum Trust, Kota
A business and economics major from Cornell University, Jaidev has worked in different financial industries most recently as an investment banker with KPMG. He is passionate about hospitality, arts and culture through the historic Brijraj Bhawan Palace Hotel, a boutique property that is also home and going forward, is paving the road to put Kota on the global map. He is building inroads in promoting the Hadoti region and putting it on the map as a tourist and cultural destination.
MODERATORS
Ms Reena Dewan
Reena Dewan is Director of Kolkata Centre for Creativity(KCC), President of ICOM India, Board member ICOM INTERCOM and a practicing artist.
She has received 3 prestigious fellowships: Australia Council’s International Leadership Program, Art Think South Asia and International Society for Performing Arts, USA. She is recipient of ‘Emerging Scholar’ award from Ground Research Networks and has presented papers on travel grants in Museum conferences in Egypt, Iran, Fuzhou, Kyoto and more. She has undergone trainings at Tate Modern, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum and Beijing Palace Museum.
She Co-convened the first International Conference on ‘Gender Mainstreaming and Cultural Rights’ in India and the first ICOM INTERCOM conference in India on ‘Museum Management’.
She is instrumental in launching the first ‘Accessibility Program’ in Eastern India under the umbrella of ‘Art for All’ at KCC. Her agenda is to make KCC truly inclusive through in-house and outreach programs for diverse communities including people from different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical & mental abilities and of different ideologies. She champions the importance of capacity building for young artists, performers, art leaders and educators, that reflects in the programming of KCC. She is the co-programmer of VK IV and has co-programmed previous editions in 2020 and 2021.
She has received 3 prestigious fellowships: Australia Council’s International Leadership Program, Art Think South Asia and International Society for Performing Arts, USA. She is recipient of ‘Emerging Scholar’ award from Ground Research Networks and has presented papers on travel grants in Museum conferences in Egypt, Iran, Fuzhou, Kyoto and more. She has undergone trainings at Tate Modern, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum and Beijing Palace Museum.
She Co-convened the first International Conference on ‘Gender Mainstreaming and Cultural Rights’ in India and the first ICOM INTERCOM conference in India on ‘Museum Management’.
She is instrumental in launching the first ‘Accessibility Program’ in Eastern India under the umbrella of ‘Art for All’ at KCC. Her agenda is to make KCC truly inclusive through in-house and outreach programs for diverse communities including people from different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical & mental abilities and of different ideologies. She champions the importance of capacity building for young artists, performers, art leaders and educators, that reflects in the programming of KCC. She is the co-programmer of VK IV and has co-programmed previous editions in 2020 and 2021.
Dr. Shwetal A Patel
Dr. Shwetal A Patel is a writer and researcher working at the intersection of contemporary art, exhibition-making practices and development theory. He is a founding member of India’s first visual arts biennial, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and holds a practice-based PhD from Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton. He has operated transnationally over the last two decades, primarily in Europe and Asia, and has been published widely in magazines, journals and online. He has presented papers at leading conferences, universities and institutions and is a Trustee of the Milton Keynes Museum, an advisor to the Kolkata Centre for Creativity and an editorial board member of OnCurating.org (Zürich University of the Arts). He is the co-programmer of VK IV and has co-programmed all previous editions since 2019.
Maharajkumari Akshita M. BhanjDeo
Akshita was born and brought up in Kolkata and attended high school at United World College of South East Asia and later went to college as a Davis scholar in the United States, Bard College, and pursued Political Science and Human Rights with a concentration in Media in conflict areas. After college, she moved to New York City to hone her skills in communications, brand management, and entrepreneurship and worked with the International Rescue Committee a humanitarian aid organization working closely with the former British parliamentarian David Miliband's team focusing on the Syrian refugee crisis.
She is a Director of the 200-year-old Belgadia Palace in Mayurbhanj and along with her family is working to build sustainable tourism with social impact at its core to the tribal-dominated region. At present Akshita is a communication strategist at The Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence is an independent, nonprofit research institute and global hub, developing AI solutions for social good. Akshita is Creative Director of the Karkhana Chroniciles, which aims to celebrate sustainability through heritage craft by shining a light on artisan clusters via contemporary patronage.
KCC’s annual conference examines the notion of the Upanishadic doctrine – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World Is One Family) and a vision of holistic development and respect for all forms of life and practice. This year, the two-day conference (24 – 25 January 2025) with the theme INTERSECTIONS & CONFLUENCES, co-programmed by Dr Shwetal A. Patel and Ushmita Sahu, brings together leading figures from the worlds of art, architecture, design, craft, music, textile, ecology, and community to explore the intersectional disciplines through design and intervention targeted to problem solving. It aims to find synergies and overlaps, whilst enquiring prevailing hierarchies and dismantling hegemonies. Converging voices and energies that can help illuminate contemporary practices, policies, while encouraging dialogue and collaboration between disciplinary siloes, VK also hopes to shed light on the intersectionality of how various forms of discrimination affect individuals and creative practitioners and offer solutions through dissemination of proven strategies at play in today's India.
VK VI is a call to action.
This event is free and open to all but with prior registration.
Register Now
CO - PROGRAMMERS
Shwetal Ashwin Patel
He works at the intersection of visual art, exhibition-making, and development studies.
As a founding member of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in India, Shwetal has played a central role in shaping one of South Asia’s foremost contemporary art events. Since 2015, he has served as a consultant to the Kochi Biennale Foundation, specializing in international partnerships and program development.
In 2020, Shwetal earned a PhD from the University of Southampton with a thesis titled Biennale Practices: Making & Sustaining Visual Art Platforms, a critical work that bridges his academic and artistic interests. He also lectures at institutions such as Zürich University of the Arts, the Royal College of Art, and the University of Exeter, where he shares his research on contemporary art practices.
In addition to his academic and professional commitments, Shwetal serves on the editorial board of OnCurating.org and as a trustee for the Milton Keynes Museum, the Kakar Centre for Psychoanalysis & Culture, and the Coventry Biennial.
He divides his time between the UK, Belgium, and India, connecting global perspectives in art-making, cultural strategy, and interdisciplinary research.
Ushmita Sahu
The Director and Head Curator of Emami Art in Kolkata and is recognized as a prominent figure in the art world. With a fine arts background from Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan, she has garnered extensive experience as an independent curator, artist, art writer, and mentor before joining Emami Art in 2021. Sahu is known for her distinctive curatorial style that integrates design elements into her exhibitions, significantly contributing to the gallery's status as a vital space for cultural production and discourse within the art market. She boasts an impressive portfolio of national and international curatorial projects and has participated in seminars, symposiums, and talks at esteemed institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Sahu frequently lectures at visual art and design colleges including the NIFT and NID. She is a recipient of the India Foundation for the Arts research grant, which she used for her research on Riten Mozumdar. Sahu is based between Kolkata and Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.
SPEAKERS
Abin Chaudhuri
Founder of Abin Design Studio, which explores the ‘unknown’ journey, experimentation with materials and technology, and engaging art and culture, aiming to provide a ‘soul in the shell’. The studio engages design in the urban fabric and peri-urban edge as a catalyst for deliberate change. His work focuses on holistic design, not just limiting to ideas but also physical manifestation through multi-disciplinary collaboration. His explorations intend to push the boundaries of thought, prevalent socio-cultural landscape and spatial construct, challenging the role of architecture in society by being unafraid of unfamiliar explorations. The studio is also the recipient of several national and international accolades.
Aditya Kumar Jha
He is a Consultant with the Museum Division at the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor of Art History & Aesthetics at the Institute of Music & Fine Arts, University of Jammu, & at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design in Jaipur, Rajasthan. An alumnus of the School of Arts & Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art with a specialization in Art History from the College of Art, University of Delhi. His research primarily explores the cultural diversity of India & its reflection in arts & crafts. He has been actively involved in art historical research with prestigious institutions such as the Parliament of India, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), The Dalai Lama Foundation, & the Aga Khan Foundation. He has also delivered lectures at national & international platforms.
Prof. Ashoke Chatterjee
Born 1935, educated at Woodstock School, St Stephen’s College Miami University, has a background in the engineering industry, international civil service, ITDC, & 25 years in the service of the NID (Ahmedabad) where he was Executive Director, Senior Faculty, Distinguished Fellow & Professor of Communication & Management. He has served a range of development institutions in India & overseas, particularly in the sectors of drinking water, sanitation, disability, livelihoods & education as well as working with artisans in many parts of the country. He was Honorary President of the Crafts Council of India for over twenty years and continues to serve CCI. He serves as Adviser to the Centre of Heritage Management at Ahmedabad University where he is Editor of the Journal of Heritage Management. An author & reporter, Prof. Chatterjee continues to assist design education & a range of development efforts. He lives in Ahmedabad
Dr. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty
He is a IAS (retired Secretary, Govt. of India), holds M.A. (Kolkata), M.P.A. (Harvard), and a Ph.D. in Fine Arts (Harvard) and the President of the People’s Council of Education and Distinguished Professor at Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha. Formerly Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi and Director-General of the National Museum, Dr. Chakravarty has played an instrumental role in various cultural and heritage management initiatives in India and abroad. His works focus on the intersection of culture, governance, and sustainable development.
Dr Padmini Ray Murray
A researcher and maker whose practice focuses on challenging acts of infrastructural and algorithmic violence by creating alternative digital spaces and imaginations that are characterised by feminist values, specifically an ethics of care. To explore the possibilities of manifesting these spaces, Padmini founded Design Beku, a design and digital collective of researchers, artists, technologists and designers who work towards making design and digital practice more locally rooted, contextually relevant and ethical.
Saleem Bhatri
Saleem Bhatri, Dean, Faculty of Design, CEPT University, has 20 years of integrated experience across the domains of Industrial Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Art, and Design Education. He is also a Partner at Case Design, an international architectural and design practice based in Mumbai, and Director at Casegoods, a brand that retails furniture, lights, objects, and textiles in India and abroad. As the Design Head at Reliance Brands, Mumbai, he previously worked on various global brands including Muji. He graduated from the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai and then trained as an Industrial Designer (Furniture Design) at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad and Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris. He attended the founding Post Graduate Program in Modern & Contemporary Indian Art History at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum.
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Sayantan Maitra Boka
Born in Kolkata, an architect by qualification, and a career in art by choice. He is a graduate from School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. As an architect, he has explored the realm of public art doing site specific interventions with LAYOUT Collective. He is the Chief Coordinator of NGO, Shelter Promotion Council (India) through which he has curated and produced public art festivals in Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya and West Bengal as the first of its kind which comprised a melange of new media art and contemporary art addressing issues of sociopolitical and environmental nature. He is Vice President of NGO, massArt which is promoting Bengal art and architecture into newer frontiers.
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Sayantoni Dutta
The co-founder of Jaladarsha Collective, an initiative focused on eco-cultural heritage and water justice. A graduate of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai) with a specialization in urban and rural community development, her work centres on indigenous rights, gender, and environmental justice. In 2018, she published Damuda: Sacred Water, reflecting on environmental conflicts along the Damodar Valley. Jaladarsha, founded in 2019, brings together artists and community practitioners to address water preservation. The collective has led water audits in Kolkata (2021-2024) and organized community art festivals such as "Flows Beyond Barriers" and "Roots and Rights." Their initiatives prioritize youth, women, and children, focusing on conservation-based livelihoods led by rural women.
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Siddhanjan Ray Chaudhuri
He is a Civil Engineer with a Master's in Rural Development, brings 23 years of experience in culture and development. As General Manager at banglanatak dot com, he has played a key role in safeguarding art forms and developing cultural industries. Through the Art for Life model, he has empowered communities by creating sustainable livelihoods through cultural entrepreneurship, skill-building, and market linkage. Siddhanjan has been instrumental in promoting cultural tourism, designing folk art centers, and community museums in craft villages. He has also led national and international festivals and exhibitions, with expertise in heritage management, festival design, and development communication on issues like health, education, and energy conservation. He is a member of ICOMOS India.
Ujjal Dey
A contemporary artist pursuing a doctorate from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. He studied textile and design at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, graduating in 2017. His semi-abstract works, which explore the ideas of tradition, rituals, ecology and landscape, are inspired by several traditional techniques and practices like Alpana (floor decoration), lepas (smear) and quilt or Kantha. His doctoral research focuses on the indigenous traditions and sustainable techniques of printing and dyeing. Dey has participated in the British Textile Biennial 2023. His notable exhibitions include a solo at Emami Art 2024, Cromwell Place, UK, 2023; His works were shown at Gallery Espace, InKo Centre, CSMVS, Art Dusseldorf 2023; India Art Fair, 2023, 2024; Art Mumbai 2024 and many others. Dey has been part of many international workshops, art camps & seminars on textiles. He is the recipient of the Junior Fellowship (2018-2019) and National Scholarship (2016) by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Ujjal Dey lives and works in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
Vikash Kumar
A New Delhi-based research scholar, arts administrator, & curator with over 15 years of experience in art and culture. He holds a master’s degree from the School of Arts & Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Since 2008, he has curated numerous exhibitions & conferences. Vikash managed over 250 cultural events at Expo Dubai 2020’s India Pavilion, collaborating with the Ministry of Commerce & the Ministry of Culture. He was part of the organizing team for the first editions of the India Art Fair & served as Curator at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi (2014-2016). He has also been a Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of Art, University of Delhi, & Contributing Editor for Art Bahrain journal. He has received multiple honours, including the UGC Net Lectureship (2013), JRF (2016-2018), & grants from the Getty Foundation. He is also the Senior Assistant Director at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI),
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