CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS 

- Hema Iyer Ramani  

Costume designed by: V.V.Ramani

It was  pouring away when I walked into her studio, but she was already rehearsing. I made myself comfortable on one of the chairs. She swirled, she whirled, moving furiously , and then she calmed. I realized the rains outside had stopped, but in the studio, the rain had begun in all its  completeness…Indira Kadambi was dancing  to a piece she had choreographed, called  Varsha . She brought in the entire experience of the rain…from the drizzle, the joy of it falling on the leaf, the face, rain on the street  slowly breaking into a puddle, the flash of the heavenly cameras creating  flashes of light….the fearsome thunder, the mirth of rain by man and beast in nature was so beautifully encapsulated in her dance . By the end of her performance , I found myself wishing for the rain…if only to relive the magic of her rain dance.

Training under conventional set up brings about the classical flavour of the art. Yet there is a kind of magic when there is  a certain  uncertainty, an element of unpredictability , when you expose yourself to the vagaries of Nature.  I had admired her for her creative  style of dance before. But after her regular trips to the mountains,there seemed to be a change. I mentioned it to her, and she smiled in acknowledgement.

Travel had always fascinated Indira as a child just as dance had. “ I love routine, as much as I love to break it”, says Indira. While her Classical training kept her rooted, the wild called out to her and appealed to the adventurous side of her.  It was Nature that taught her to accept, to step back, to look with detachment, she said.

Scaling a peak may be the end, but if we do not concentrate on the  where and how of it, we miss out on the beautiful process of reaching the goal, she opined. In dance too, she found she was able to adapt this, because the mountains taught her an important lesson- to enjoy the moment, to bask in the glory of the process without a thought for the end, to find bliss without the final act of performance !

Costume designed by: V.V.Ramani

Watching the clouds sail by, watching the flight of birds, the animals, the trees, the waves…it would seem to an onlooker that she was just sitting in silence watching blankly ahead. But Indira absorbs  the entire process, the tempo, the sounds, the movements, the silence too into her system. In fact, she has just danced to  the stillness of silence- understanding that there is something that Nature teaches us- that it is not necessary to be talking all the time, there is need for a quiet- within and outside of us.

I understand this call of the mountains, because when you see around you high up on the mountains, seldom do you see the things around you- there are layers of misty clouds seemingly mysterious. Yet, when you wait patiently, the clouds clear to reveal the truth outside. The mountains perhaps taught her to step back, to relook. The mountains most importantly taught her to trust , and to explore, to acknowledge the greatness of the mysterious Nature, learn and respect . The mountains do engage in lessons of persistence and fortitude – they teach us how to stand strong and proud and be courageous to weather all situations. The mountains teach us to melt too just as the hard rock finally yields and breaks into little pebbles over the persistent cajoling of the seemingly gentle flowing water.

The mountains allow her to look within and realize that no matter how much of travelling one does, there are still “ miles to go” and many more peaks to climb.

Noida International Literature Festival- “VIBHOR” 

A Literature Festival like no other.

It is a unique celebration of the written words, celebrating the literature and writers from across the globe. The festival will take place against the stunning backdrop of Noida city, which is a beautiful amalgamation of modern architecture and carefully crafted green landscape.

This Literature Festival will draw over 100 writers, artists, academics, scholars, publishers from India and abroad each year. Over the span of 2-days, this festival will bring together the best minds in the world of literature within and outside India.

The festival will initiate the conversation between authors, readers, literary agents, publishers, self-pub stars, humanitarians, politicians, sports personalities, and entrepreneurs.

Over and above all the extravaganza, The NILF will provide the life changing opportunity to the readers, audience and wanna-be authors to turn their dream into reality by providing them the publishing opportunity through its special initiative, “I Am Author”. NILF will include over 30 events and activities.

The festival will feature workshops, book readings, talks, panel sessions, debates, short-movies and documentary screening and performances from top Indian and international writers.

The Special Vitrine

After an all-embracing study for the five minds through ground-breaking projects that reach out to the sixth sense, or instinct, Noida international Literature Festival – Vibhor, will present: The Special Vitrine. Curatorially focused, the exhibition will explore how instinct has, in some form, shaped art from corner to corner, civilizations and generations. It will carry collectively historic, modern and contemporary works related to the concept of instinct, dreams, meditation, creative power and inspiration. The Special Vitrine is the ability to attain comprehension devoid of evidence, or conscious reasoning: a sensation that guides a person to act in a definite manner without fully understanding why.

The concept has been developed through installations, talks and by allowing people to experience new ways of seeing, simply to find means of relating with the intuitive responses to create the ultimate multi-sensory experiences.

.Art on Display

Each art piece at The Special Vitrine is inspired by a desire to trace the multidisciplinary route that epitomize life in art. The theme is therefore a perfect topic to explore in relation to the versatile and mysterious identity of the great Royalties of South Asia. The exhibition starts a many-faceted project which intends to provide now and in future years of a portrait of important Royals of contemporary art by presenting their valuable art collections.

The exhibition’s aim is to examine the question: how has the role of the Royalties evolved from the time of the great Renaissance collections to the present day?

Private Preview: Princess Nandini  Singh Jhabua of the princely state of Jhabua, MP, shall give an ode to her grandmother HH Rani Lok Rajya Lakshmi Devi w/o HH Raja Ajit Singh by presenting her private collection of Tangkasnet Art.

International artists – Niren Sen Gupta(Advisor – Habitat Centre, Principal – College of arts), Sameer bharthi, Atul Sinha, Paramjit Singh(All India Fine Art and crafts Society, Principal- College of arts, Delhi Silpi chakra), Rajesh K Baderia,

The Art Wall Project – Dr Abid Zaidi

Special Project – Interactive Art Installation.

The Special Vitrine is an ever evolving platform  to sense the pulse of creativity for the futurists of the world.

Interactive Dialogues 

The Special Vitrine’s Interactive Dialogues brings together artists, curators, critics and patrons held within the art and craft community of South Asia, to discover the cultural discourse across the world.

At the 2017 edition, conversations shall examine multifarious topics such as: How to grow to be a bridge between the great minds of our time – philosophers, sociologists, designers, architects, artists, writers, businessmen and opinion leaders— and the promising futurists of the generations to come.

 The relationship between Literature and Art’ shall bring to the focus that how Literature and Art can together nourish the creative creations that shall continue to inspire the futurists of the world.

Our Interactive Dialogues includes speakers such as: Dr Parag Diwan, Founder Chancellor – University of Petroleum and Energy Studies – Asia’s first core sector University, International artist Rajesh K. Baderia, Princess Nandini  Singh Jhabua of the princely state of Jhabua, MP, art Critic Aruna Bhowmick among others.

 Akhil Vadehra

Creator|Design Thinker|Imagineer

Belonging from a Family who developed the definition of modernity in the Indian Art separate from the colonial legacy and Global Intra-preneurs  has raised  Akhil Vadehra’s Creative Thinking and Imagination potential in an all-inclusive stage for the human race to gain assistance from. Akhil Vadehra is the youngest scion of his privileged family and grew up in a rich and artistic environment since childhood.

On 25^th of November, 2016, Akhil Vadehra was appointed as Albinism India Alliance’s Lifetime Creator – India’s First attempt for individuals with exceptional genetic conditions, to create AIA as a central figure in expanding a network of good dedicated to people with Albinism with Om Kothari Group of Companies.
Since the age of 6, Akhil brought many things that he imagined into a reality and passionately ideates to contribute to inestimable and great things in the ever evolving World of Creations.
Akhil has been an acclaimed pantomime artist and fascinates about traditional Indian art and craft. He works very closely with artisans from across the country and creates rare masterpieces.
Akhil has been awarded by various National Groups, Councils and organizations since childhood.

Founder of NILF – Nidhi Sharma

Nidhi Sharma holds a Masters in Chemistry. She has juggled various roles as teacher, mother and social worker before turning towards advertising. She has years of experience in client relationship management and currently she is heading the advertising and event agency, Across The Road. She is also the founder of a child-rights organization, Nidhi Foundation. Nidhi is a proud member of Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE) and Assocham India.

For more information visit http://www.noidaliteraturefestival.com/

‘Everything comes to life through art’ Justa Resorts.

Justa resorts is a chain of hotels and resorts founded by Mr. Ashish Vohra, where Indian hospitality meets international standards. Being believers in individualized service, the hotels offer fewer than 50 rooms at all of their locations, resulting in an intimate experience for guests. Justa resorts has one crucial difference to other hoteliers presently in the market; it has centered the visitor experience around art and aesthetics in a unique way. Mr Vohra’s interest came about in a rather accidentally, when in 2007 he began to purchase artwork for a hotel which he had opened in Delhi. Initially as a seemingly cost effective option they went to China to source visual works for the hotel, which many hoteliers do. This seemed like a good idea until an artist friend of Mr Vohra came to visit the hotel and straightaway commented on how awful the works on the wall were, commenting that they were third rate replicas which are made in their thousands and sold. His outlook changed when he visited different areas such as Calcutta and got a taste of the wealth of quality original Indian art being produced currently. Mr Vohra subsequently visited many of these artists homes, got to know them and even visited the Young Artists Awards. He realized that India’s attitude towards art is completely unique, and at that time vowed to never again buy a piece of art work unless it was an original signed copy, even if buying a piece of graphic design. At this point he realized that he could base the hotels around art. Commercially this was an investment as well as aesthetically, because an emerging artist whom they brought work from could be a master in decades to come. It was not just creativity which brought the project about, but smart investment in adding value to the hotels and turning them into living art spaces.

Lake Naharghar Palace, Chittorghar.

As part of an initiative to generate art work for the hotel and to nourish the Indian art scene, Ashish Vohra has started an art residency called ‘Chitrashaala’ which is in it’s third year running, at the Lake Naharghar Justa hotel resort in the beautiful locality of Chittorghar.Chitrshaala began three years ago with a relatively small group of 10 artists at the Turtle Bay Justa resort in Karnataka, and it was at this small residency that the idea of expanding the residency came about. Three years on and Chitrashaala 2017 has involved artists from a variety of different countries including Egypt, Russia, Thailand, Syria, Lebanon and of course Indian artists including those from the local area.

The residency takes place over one week at the Lake Naharghar Palace resort, and artists are given free reign of the building for that week, setting up temporary work stations in the halls of the resort which brings another world of vibrancy to the building. The residency is not only beneficial for the hotel but it is of enormous benefit to the artists involved. Another central idea behind this residency project is that the Lake Nahaghar location itself provides the perfect environment for creativity to blossom. The seclusion of the area provides an opportunity for the artists to create work free from usual daily distractions, and gives space for creative thought process to grow. Artists have responded to the environment in a variety of unique and interesting ways, some covertly and some overtly.

Phad Painting – Mukesh Sharma.

Ashish Vohra teamed up with curator  Anirudh Chari and artist Avijit Mukherjee to organize this event and source the artists, who are brought together based on the quality and themes of their works. Artists are generally selected based on how well they will gel together in terms of interpersonal relationships and quality of the works. It’s both the segregation and lack thereof which makes this location so perfect for the residency, as well as being in the middle of a lake surrounded by natural beauty, one an also visit nearby areas such as Bundi and Chittorghar which are world renowned historical sites, even the direct local area provides plenty of visual stimulation – there is certainly no shortage of inspiration here. 

Vassan Sitthiket

The organizing trio make an effort to reach out to the local community, recognizing the wealth of talent in the local are and the need to nourish and encourage those engaged in the arts. Two artists from the local area were present this time; Mukesh Sharma who specializes in Rajasthani traditional painting as well as contemporary, and young conceptual painter Shradda Solanki. The event is also open to for the public to come and view the works being created and there is an open exhibition at the end of the residency. 

The next Chitrashaala residency will take place in another Justa resort in Udaipur, where the improved connectivity of the location should draw in more members of the public. 

Hopes for the future of Chitrashaala, other than it’s vibrant continuation, are to plan an exhibition in Delhi in the near future, so that the artists in involved in Chitrashaala can gain more exposure. 

The organizers aim to keep this residency going each year, and further nurture the growing community which is Chitrashaala. 

Chitrashaala 2017