In its third edition of the Satellite series, the Mumbai Light Festival is showcasing two unique audiovisual acts. These bring together diverse artists, genres, and influences to craft uniquely immersive experiences. The first act, ‘Once upon a time…’ runs from December 13 to 17, while the second, ‘Overture’ can be experienced from December 17 to 22 at the G5A Warehouse, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.
In ‘Once upon a time…’, Padma Shri-winning artist Durga Bai Vyam and animator Vishwesh Menon bring a Gond folktale to life, set to the hypnotic tunes of Bana. Bana is a three-string fiddle that the Pradhan Gond community plays traditionally. This is an attempt at pushing the boundaries when it comes to representing our vast wealth of traditional lore and art forms. The Experience is a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence and celebrate its people and culture. In 2008, Vyam and two other Gond artists, Ram Singh Urveti and Bhajju Shyam received the Bologna Ragazzi Award in Italy for their illustrations in the book ‘The Night Life of Trees’.
‘Overture’ brings together visual artist Aniruddh Mehta and creative technologist Aaron Pereira to create an audio-visual sci-fi abstraction of geometric forms and organic topologies.
The Mumbai Light Festival, scheduled for the first quarter of 2023, will be “a celebration of light, its magic, and its possibilities”. Put together by the Floating Canvas Company and supported by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, it will bring together 17 established and emerging artists and feature exhibitions, workshops, and panel discussions. The MLF Satellite Series gives us a taste of what to expect there. Tickets are available on Insider.