Red Earth Comes to Bombay | Design Mela

InfluencerCon | Bombay Chapter

Influencer Conference London 2011 from We Are Co on Vimeo.

Mumbai, India September 7, 2012 – The 2012 Influencer Conference (‘InfluencerCon’) will be held between 3–5 October simultaneously in New York City, London, Berlin, Mumbai, Sao Paulo and here in Mumbai at Studio X Mumbai 

InfluencerCon is the first of its kind global content platform that seeks to identify, understand and support influencer culture globally.

By bringing tastemakers and game-changers across industries and territories together, InfluencerCon establishes itself as the standard bearer for those who are pushing boundaries and innovating.

In Mumbai, The Influencer Conference will be held at Studio X Mumbai and features some exciting influential individuals such as Design Thinker, Sonia Manchanda; Head of Godrej India Culture Lab, Parmesh Shahani; Entreprenuer and Managing Director of DisneyUTV Digital, Vishal Gondal; Co-Founder of Greenlight Planet, Mayank Sekshsaria; Artist/Producer, Ma Faiza; and Author/Journalist Deepanjana Pal. Through the diversity of their backgrounds, speakers will showcase ways of breaking down traditional thinking, and ways of pushing boundaries to inspire innovation and meaningful change in line with the theme of this year’s conference. 

Organised around the sub-themes ‘Inspire’, ‘Disrupt’ and ‘Engage’, this year’s conference will be accompanied by various interactive activities throughout the duration catering to diverse tastes and interests, including a live art battle (Secret Wars, by Monorex), showcase of new local musicians and DJs (Check at the Door, by C@TD) as well as an Innovation Lab, and Idea Funhouse. 

InfluencerCon seeks to break down traditional “silo-ed” thinking and encourage cross functionality. Creativity, open and fair exchange, passion, collaboration and a commitment to rich and authentic experiences are critical elements of influencer culture.

More information on: www.influencercon.com

Mushrooms in Mumbai | Dharavi Slums

During the Indian Civil War, the Dharavi slums of Mumbai were flooded with refugees looking to escape the conflict. The Mumbai authorities, distracted by defence of the city and facing an already over-populated and poverty stricken slum could do little to maintain a semblance of civilised life in the area. Sometime later a cache of biological samples appeared through the criminal networks of Mumbai, in the vain hope that it might provide new marketable narcotic opportunities. The collective drive and expertise of the refugees managed to turn theses genetically-engineered fungal samples into a new type of infrastructure Ð providing heat, light and building material for the refugees. Dharavi rapidly evolved itÕs own micro-economy based around the mushrooms. This documentary tells the story of some of the characters involved from Mumbai and the rest of the world and how Dharavi came to be such a unique place.

SLUTWALK | coming soon to Bombay

After Delhi, its time for Bombay to show support for the 'SLUTWALK' checkout the video & HOLLA BACK! Its time for Bombay. Its time for India.

The official video of SlutWalk Delhi 2011 is an approach of conveying our demands to the society. For we believe that the system along with the people of India need a revelation and to do that we are presenting you a message. A message to inspire you. Greater is the sin of not speaking when a woman is being raped than that of raping her. How many times must we mind our own business when a woman is being harassed? Would we expect the same when it happens to our beloved ones? This video will answer all your questions. Also, it is not to propagate or advertise short clothes. A woman fully dressed in a salwar-kameez is as likely to get raped as the one in a mini-skirt. Stop and think. She needs your help because she is tired of being suppressed, tired of all that is unjust. So wake up. Indians the time is now. Speak, do.

Connect with Slutwalk on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_165762856819801&ap=1

More support -- http://mumbai.ihollaback.org/

Bombay Slum Golf | ESPN E:60

Mumbai Golf - ESPN E:60 from Evolve IMG Films Ltd. on Vimeo.

An ESPN E:60 short TV doc on Golf in India. Produced by Yaron Deskalo, ESPN. Filmed & Edited by Evolve Digital Cinema.

Caddies from an upscale golf club in Mumbai, India, created a version of the game using handmade equipment and a course that winds through the streets and slums.

ANISH KAPOOR | Delhi & Bombay

PRESS RELEASE:

The first-ever exhibition of Anish Kapoor in India will be presented at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi from 28 November 2010 – 27 February 2011 and the Mehboob Film Studios, Mumbai from 30 November 2010 – 16 January 2011. The exhibition is presented by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and the National Gallery of Modern Art, together with the British Council and Lisson Gallery in association with Louis Vuitton.

Organised across two sites, each exhibition will focus on a different strand of the artist’s practice and together will form one of the largest and most ambitious exhibitions of the artist’s work ever to be shown. It will feature a selection of sculptures and installations spanning the breadth of his career, from early pigment-based works of the 1980s, to his most recent wax installations. Both exhibitions will feature works which were included in the recent, record-breaking exhibition of Kapoor’s work at the Royal Academy, London, which attracted over 275,000 visitors in less than three months and became the most successful exhibition of a living artist ever held in London.

Anish Kapoor is one of the most influential sculptors of his generation. He was born in 1954 in Bombay and moved to London in the early 1970s where he has lived and worked ever since. He studied art at Hornsey College of Art (1973-1977) and at Chelsea School of Art (1977-1978). He quickly gained international attention and acclaim for a series of solo exhibitions at museums and galleries across the world. He represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1990, where he was awarded the ‘Premio Duemila’.

He won the Turner Prize in 1991 and he received the prestigious Unilever Commission for the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern in 2002, which he realised with the much-acclaimed work, Marsyas. Among his major permanent commissions is Cloud Gate (2004) for the Millennium Park in Chicago, considered to be the most popular public artwork in the world. He was recently awarded the commission with Cecil Balmond for a permanent artwork for the London 2012 Olympic Park, the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi is one of the leading museums for modern and contemporary art in India. Recently re-furbished, the NGMA now includes three main exhibition buildings and the Anish Kapoor show will be the first major exhibition to be held in the gallery’s newly constructed Exhibition Hall.

The Mehboob Studios were founded by legendary filmmaker Mehboob Khan in 1954 to cater for the growing demand for quality film facilities in India. Situated on 20,000 square yards of seaside land in Bandra, in the heart of greater Mumbai, the studio soon became a favourite with some of the leading filmmakers of the time.

ANISH KAPOOR: Delhi / Mumbai
www.anishkapoorindia.com

Delhi
Opening 27 November
Exhibition runs 28 November - 27 February 2011
National Gallery of Modern Art
Jaipur House, India Gate, New Delhi 110 003
www.ngmaindia.gov.in
Open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am to 5pm, except Thursday until 8pm. Closed on Mondays and National Holidays
Entrance fees: Indian: Rs: 10 / Foreign National: Rs: 150 / Student/Child: Rs: 1

Mumbai
Opening 29 November
Exhibition runs 30 November - 16 January 2011
Mehboob Studios
100 Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050
Opens daily from 9am to 9pm
FREE ENTRY although booking required

Booking information: +91 22 40203660/61/62/63

NEXT YEAR IN BOMBAY | Jews of Bombay

"Next Year in Bombay" is a documentary (56 min, HD) by Jonas Parienté and Mathias Mangin.

Sharon and Sharona Galsulkar are the last educators of their Indian Jewish community, the Bene Israel, which has been residing in the Bombay region for 2000 years and is now disappearing. Genuinely Zionists and concerned by their daughters future, they are also committed to their communitys needs. Whose education will they sacrifice?

"Next Year in Bombay" can be seen at the 12th Mumbai Film Festival at PVR Juhu on 25th October, 2010 - MASI reports.

MUMBAI METRO | PROTEST MARCH

UNDERGROUND METRO MARCH

SUNDAY, 19^TH SEPTEMBER, 2010

LET US BE VERY CLEAR - "WE WANT THE METRO"

But what we only ask is - it needs to be planned. It cannot be one in an ad hoc manner, which will instead of improving the infrastructure, make it difficult for people to commute in the future.

WE NEED EVERYONES SUPPORT FOR OUR CITY.

WE WILL HAVE A PROTEST MARCH FROM KAIFI AAZMI PARK 10TH ROAD TO NANAVATI HOSPITAL ON 19TH SEPTEMBER AT 10 AM, TO CREATE MORE AWARENESS AMONG THE CITIZENS OF MUMBAI ABOUT THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF MUMBAI METRO PHASE 2. WE MEET OUTSIDE KAIFI AAZMI PARK ON 10^TH ROAD.

ITS OUR CITY AND WE SHALL CONTRIBUTE - PLEASE PASS ON THIS MESSAGE TO ALL ON YOUR CONTACT LIST AND FRIENDS. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

EMAIL: METRORAILUNDERGROUND@GMAIL.COM

Associations backing underground metro: will keep increasing as we get confirmations.

(1) Juhu Citizens Welfare Group
(2) AGNI - Action for Good Governance and Networking in India
(3) Bandra Bandstand Residents Trust
(4) Bandra West Residents Association
(5) Gulmohar Residents Association
(6) Guzdar Scheme Residents Trust
(7) JVPD Co op Housing Asso Ltd
(8) Khar-Bandra-Santacruz Foundation
(9) Pali Hill Residents Association

(10) Juhu Scheme Residents Association(JSRA)
(11) Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai (IQOLMS)
(12) Mumbai Environment Social Network (MESN)

Jitish Kallat at the Haunch of Venison | जितिश कल्लत

The Astronomy of the Subway, 2010

Haunch of Venison, London

Haunch of Venison London presents an exhibition of new work by the Indian artist Jitish Kallat. Kallat's new work showcases the full range of his visual vocabulary incorporating video, sculptural installation, photography and the large format paintings for which he is best known. Tackling his foundational themes of sustenance, survival and mortality in the contemporary urban environment of Mumbai, Kallat offsets a vivid, hand-made aesthetic with digitised renderings of streets fit-to-burst, where the cumulative impression of daily existence is pushed to the extreme.

At the heart of the artists interest in the bustling metropolis lies the experience of the individual within the crowd. This is driven by a play on scale, understood in terms of a subject's physical and metaphorical presence. Across two and three dimensions, using a variety of media, and through assimilating the local with the universal, Kallat checks the twenty-first century's obsession with effects - images, food, products, even people by repositioning them in unfamiliar environments. A large video projection shows x-rayed foodstuffs projected onto a dark celestial space and pouring into view as asteroids, stellar formations, planetary clusters and nebulae. In a sculptural installation, a miniature crowd of rioting figures scatters across the floor, their scale exaggerated by the viewers height, as if seen through the wrong end of a telescope.

Another piece in the exhibition is an intricately treated sculpture of an oversized black lead kerosene stove that carries more than a hundred images on it. These are culled from the porch of the Victoria Terminus building which is the nerve centre of Mumbai's commuter action. Curiously, the decorative architectural friezes carry several images of animals devouring each other and clinging onto various foods. Viewed together on a single sculpture, this sprawling mass is not unlike the daily grind of survival that this porch bears witness to. In large paintings elsewhere, the body is abstracted into ink blot formations, its stretched muscles and dripping fluids becoming receptacles of urban trauma.

Undermining conventional notions of the local and universal, the micro and the macro, and the way the two infect one another, Jitish Kallat's forthcoming exhibition is a sustained meditation on the urban dwelling condition where the struggle between self-improvement and social disorder is at its most stark. The corpus of evidence Kallat presents is bound by Tristan Tzara's Dada poem, 'The Great Lament Of My Obscurity Three', which he re-presents here as a text made from bone. Its combination of the close at hand, the nonsensical and the cosmic -'let us always shuffle through the colour of the world/which looks bluer than the subway and astronomy… our legs are stiff and knock together - distils the world, half-here and half-there, mine yet theirs, which Kallat repeatedly evokes.

www.jitishkallat.in