Every Friday until the end of July
At 5.30–6.30 PM
At SAIIER Conference Room, Auroville.

All are welcome.

1. Knots & Weaves:

An intimate walkthrough with curators Arnika Ahldag and Vaishnavi Kambadur

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 10 February 2022
• Where: Online
• Register

The intimate walkthrough with Arnika Ahldag and Vaishnavi Kambadur will take you through shared histories of tie-dyed textiles in the exhibition Painted Stitches Woven Stories II. Using MAP’s collection, the curators will closely share their stories and speculations as they unravel every knot and weave to highlight the textile’s relationship with its makers and keepers.

2. Lords of the Deccan:

Art, Literature, and the Global World of Medieval South Asia

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 12 February 2022
• Where: Online
• Register

Deep Dive is an in-depth exploration of global art, design, histories and knowledge that helps us better understand the evolution of cultures, of our place in the world and more

Lords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas is a new history of medieval India. Weaving together art history, military history, global trade and literature from the period, the book explores medieval Indian lives in all their emotional complexity and striking humanity and ambition. In a departure from earlier historiography about the period, Lords of the Deccan attempts to read art historical materials alongside epigraphical sources to uncover new nuances and layers of meaning.

Join the book’s author, Anirudh Kanisetti, as he introduces the vast world of medieval India and how sculpture and architecture reveal the ambitions, lives and politics of their makers and patrons.

This Deep Dive is supported by Sonata Software.

• When: 6:00-7:30 PM (IST), 27 November 2021
• Where: Online on Zoom
• Register

During the course of our busy daily lives, we often forget the most important thing we have — ourselves. When was the last time you did something for YOU? How well do you really know YOURSELF? Guided meditation and art making exercises are a great way to tap into our inner selves and practice self-reflection.

Join artist and art therapist Disha Dutt in an immersive workshop where you will discover, nourish and explore your inner self through the magical medium of art through making and sharing activities.

1. Jorrit Britschgi in Conversation with Kamini Sawhney

Rediscover Bangalore’s iconic single screen cinema halls with Sameer Raichur and Prof. SV Srinivas.

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 17 November 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

This episode of MAP’s series Director’s Cut features Jorrit Britschgi, Executive Director of the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, in conversation with the Director of MAP, Kamini Sawhney.

The Rubin Museum of Art is dedicated to connecting visitors with the ideas, cultures, and art of the Himalayan regions. Britschgi, the Swiss art historian, has led the institution since 2017 and oversaw the revisioning that set the Museum on a more sustainable path and created dynamic and relevant experiences for the public. 

The Director’s Cut series offers a glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today and presents a unique opportunity to hear from reputed practitioners in museums around the world as they reflect on their institutional experiences, behind-the-scenes challenges, unique initiatives, and more.

2. Unboxing Beats:

Understanding the creative process of sampling in music with producers Parimal Shais and Kalmi as well as rapper HanuMankind, and moderator Aneesha Kotwani

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 20 November 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Have you ever heard a song and had a wave of familiarity wash over? Why does it sound so similar yet distinctly different? Sampling is the process by which sections of familiar classics are repurposed to become building blocks for fresh, new tracks. Music producers find gripping sounds and loop, chop, warp, and rearrange them to create magic.

Join producers Parimal Shais, Kalmi, and rapper Hanu Mankind in conversation with Aneesha Kotwani for a session exploring the creative process of sampling, its influence on music production today, and the role it can play in reviving the rich musical history of the subcontinent.

The producers will also present live demonstrations where they identify samples they’ve used and repurposed in their own work.

This event is conducted as part of the lead-up to MAP’s second edition of our annual festival, Art is Life: SoundFrames which is conceptualised around music.

ArtCare- Tips For Family Heritage

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 06 November 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Over a lifetime we collect many keepsakes, which when passed down over generations become treasured artefacts that help us reconnect with stories from our past. Taking measures to care for these objects ensure that we get to hold on to them that much longer and revere the stories they narrate.

Empower yourself to take care of your heirlooms, photographs, paintings, antiques, jewellery, and textiles in this masterclass with art conservator-restorer Anupam Sah. Send us a picture of an artefact with your questions, or keep your objects beside you and ask your questions and he will answer them live, sharing tips and techniques for the care and preservation of your family heritage.

You can write to mehreen.yousaf@map-india.org with your pictures and questions or send us a message on our Instagram (@mapbangalore).

Art Conservator-Restorer 

Anupam Sah, an art conservation-restoration practitioner, strategist, and educator, is the Head of Art Conservation, Research, and Training at the CSMVS Museum Art Conservation Centre. He addresses art and heritage conservation issues with a network approach where judicious interventions in the networks can bring about desired impacts in the system. He designs and conducts conservation workshops and training programmes and teaches at universities. His primary interest these days is to help strengthen the art conservation profession in India by collaborating with motivated institutions and individuals. His services as a heritage conservation advisor have been sought by various national and international cultural institutions. He has been conferred with the ‘Sanskriti Award for Social and Cultural Achievement’, UNESCO commendations, and ‘Knighthood of the Order of the Star of Italy’ for excellence in art conservation. He has founded Anupam Heritage Lab (India) Pvt. Ltd., and the Himalayan Society for Heritage and Art Conservation.

Prashant Panjiar in conversation with Mahesh Bhat about his three-decade journey as a photojournalist

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 27 October 2021
• Where: Bangalore International Centre
• Register. To RSVP, please write to us at hello@map-india.org.

Spanning three decades, That Which is Unseen is a compilation of backstories from Prashant Panjiar’s years as a photojournalist illustrated through his images and his words.

Starting with his first self-financed work on the dacoits of the Chambal valley, the book takes us through his journey of working as a photojournalist with publications such as Patriot newspaper, India Today, Outlook and Time Magazine, as well as his documentary work for international non-profit organisations.

Join us for the Bengaluru launch of the book where the author, Prashant Panjiar will be in conversation with fellow photographer and educator, Mahesh Bhat.

You will also have the opportunity to get your own copy of That Which is Unseenand have it signed by the author post the event.

This is a physical event in collaboration with the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), where it will be hosted. Covid-appropriate behaviour and the wearing of masks will be expected of all attendees.

In compliance with government regulations, all attendees should also be able to produce proof of having received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the entrance.

1. Whose Museum Is It Anyway?:

Understanding the role of audience research in the arts and culture sector

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 6 October 2021
• Where: Online
• Registration: Click Here

What does the museum-going culture in India look like today? What are people’s perceptions of the ‘museum’ and what it has to offer? How has the pandemic affected engagement with the arts and culture sector in India? 

MAP in collaboration with ReReeti Foundation conducted audience research to hear from people across age demographics about how they engage with arts and culture and what factors act as barriers to engagement. 

To mark the launch of this report, join us for a panel discussion with Tejshvi Jain, Rashmi Dhanwani, Carol Scott and Carolina Artegiani where they highlight the need for more audience research in the arts sector and how this data can be harnessed effectively. They will also touch upon key findings of the report and provide insights into how people perceive museums and what they seek out of encounters with them, in both the physical and digital spheres.

(This event will be on Zoom and YouTube)

2. What’s the Scene, Bob?:

Explore the evolution of Bengaluru lingo with influencers Sonu Venu Gopal, Shreyas Rao, and Sriram Sullia

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 9 October 2021
• Where: Online
• Registration: Click Here

The unique lingo of Bengaluru is a palimpsest that tells us so much about the communities that have inhabited the city. Tracking its evolution, therefore, can help us understand the multicultural landscape of the city today. 

Bengaluru slang is getting renewed attention as the city’s influencers animate these words through their funny, light-hearted reels and posts. Join us for a conversation with content creators Sonu Venugopal, Shreyas Rao, and Sriram Sullia as they discuss the origins of many much loved slang words and phrases, and the role social media has played in popularising Bengaluru lingo.

Stay back for the last 10 minutes of the programme for a fun quiz about the city’s quirks!

This event is in collaboration with the British Council, as part of the Our Shared Cultural Heritage (OSCH) programme.

(This event will be on Zoom and YouTube)

Red, Blue, Yellow:

A journey through colour in Indian painting with Kavita Singh

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 2 October 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Is Krishna always blue? What is Indian yellow? Why are the margins of so many Rajput paintings painted a brilliant red?  Dr. Kavita Singh (Professor of Art History at the School of Arts and Aesthetics of Jawaharlal Nehru University) presents a window into the rich and complex world of colour in miniature paintings.

Discover new shades of familiar colours in this illustrated talk that explores the symbolic meaning of the hues, the pigments that constitute them and the artists’ brilliant use of colour to convey narrative.

This event is in collaboration with Bangalore International Centre (BIC).

Mystery Rooms

DISCOVER MAP ARTISTS Age: 10+

Karen Knorr is a photographer and academic who was born in Germany, grew up in Puerto Rico and lives in London. Her large body of work develops a critical and playful dialogue with photography; exploring ideas of power, prejudice and patriarchy, among others.

This Discover MAP pack includes:

• An exploration guide – Discover India Song, an India-based photo series by Karen Knorr that addresses the representation of animals in art & culture and more.
• MAP Stories With Art – Unpack a Karen Knorr photograph and use it to develop your own four-panel story.
• MAP Activity Sheet – Imagine creatures in unlikely habitats and think about how they might change to adapt!

[ZIP file with 3 PDFs]

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A key element of MAP’s mission is to change the perception of museums, from old repositories to a space of creative learning; to a perfect spot for families to spend the day and bond while discovering and engaging with our collection in new and fun ways. Our family-oriented programming and workshops are designed to cater to audiences of different ages within a family.

The Discover MAP packs that explore the museum’s collections through select artists, themes, and stories, also make a great family bonding activity. Download and access these resources at home to make the most of your weekend with your kids. It’s never too late to have fun or learn. We believe in doing both.

Photography exhibition “Repressed Memories ” by Arun is ongoing in Centre d’Art till 2 October.

• When: Talk at 5pm, 1 October 2021. Exhibition ongoing till 02 October 2021. Gallery hours Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 12.00pm – 2.30pm to 5.00pm. Sunday closed, please park at the town hall.
• Where: Centre d’Art Multimedia room

Ārun (b. 1990, India) focuses on the contemporary forces of development on Indian identity, traditional culture and natural environments.  Shooting in his preferred black and white medium format, he investigates his subjects with an eye for lines of geometry and contrasts of light and shadow, influenced by his appreciation for the work of Lu Nan and Gordon Parks. His personal stories demonstrate his intense study of a subject often offset by surprising observations unexpected by the viewer.  

Ārun is a self-taught, freelance photographer with a particular interest in archival photographic processes.

Biography:

Ārun (b. 1990, India) focuses on the contemporary forces of development on Indian identity, traditional culture and natural environments. Shooting in his preferred black and white medium format, he investigates his subjects with an eye for lines of geometry and contrasts of light and shadow, influenced by his appreciation for the work of Lu Nan and Gordon Parks. His personal stories demonstrate his intense study of a subject often offset by surprising observations unexpected by the viewer.

Ārun is a self-taught, freelance photographer with a particular interest in archival photographic processes.

The Provocateurs

Two people, one artist: Shilpa Vijayakrishnan talks with the eccentric artist duo, Gilbert and George.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 25 September 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Art for all’ is the credo of the artist duo, Gilbert and George. United by their disdain for the formalist approach to sculpture, Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore met as college students at the St Martins School of Art, and have been living and creating together ever since. Their increasingly formal appearance marked by matching tweed suits juxtaposed with their loud, provocative, brightly-coloured artwork is what cultivates the distinctive public persona–Gilbert and George. 

Having explored many facets of human existence through their work including sex, religion, corruption, racial tension, addiction and death, the duo believes that art in every form exists to provoke. 

Join us in conversation with the duo as they speak to Shilpa Vijayakrishnan about their ever-expanding practice, distinctive style and approach to confronting a breadth of societal issues through their work. 

This event is in collaboration with Bangalore International Centre (BIC).

1. MAP TALKS: Silver Screen Stories

Rediscover Bangalore’s iconic single screen cinema halls with Sameer Raichur and Prof. SV Srinivas.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 11 September 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Whether it’s catching the morning show at Majestic or a rare English film at Rex, cinema halls hold a special place in Bangalore’s unique cosmopolitan culture. In fact, Bangalore once had the largest concentration of independent movie theatres anywhere in India. Given the increasing popularity of OTT platforms, single-screen cinemas may seem like relics of the past in the urban cityscape today. 

Questioning this idea, photographer Sameer Raichur and cultural theorist Prof. SV Srinivas talk about the relevance of these iconic spaces in the city – their role in sustaining a prevailing cinema culture, as public spaces and more.

This event is in collaboration with Heritage Beku.

2. MAP WORKSHOP: The Kitchen Studio

An intensive workshop that looks at the kitchen beyond its textbook definition of a room where food is cooked.

• When: 7:00 PM (IST), 17-26 September 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

The Kitchen Studio Workshop invites participants to engage in a 10-day long investigation of the kitchen as a space of creative facilitation similar to an artist’s studio, comprising the interaction between maker, materials, tools, ideas and concepts. 

Hosted via Zoom and Discord, this workshop is designed to help participants learn from artists and archivists; and create their own work by engaging with various resources, exercises and open dialogue. You’ll get to see the kitchen space and paraphernalia evolve from their culinary connotations to a conceptual studio that creates stories and experiences.

Participants will be encouraged to work across different mediums and are expected to work and collaborate with other participants for the duration of this workshop. The final output will be a digital publication, showcased by MAP.

The Kitchen Studio workshop is conducted in collaboration with Curating for Culture. The sessions will be facilitated by curator and archivist, Ishita Shah.

This workshop is specially curated for 18–25 year olds. 

Mentioned below are the key dates of the workshop:

Friday, 17th September 2021 (07:00–08:30 PM): Introductory Session
Thursday, 23rd September 2021 (07:00–08:30 PM): Guest Speaker Session
Sunday, 26th September 2021 (07:00–08:30 PM): Closing/Feedback Session

We encourage participants with any kind of difficulty related to hearing, speaking, learning, etc. to participate in the workshop. If you are a participant of this nature, please write to access@map-india.org prior to registration and let us know the nature of the difficulty and the accommodations that may be required. We will try our best to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with you. 

Complete your application and we’ll share a wallpaper with you that features an artwork from MAP’s collection!

Click here for the application form.

1. Marie-Cécile Zinsou in Conversation with Kamini Sawhney

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 25 August 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

This session of MAP’s new series Director’s Cut features Marie-Cécile Zinsou, the President of the Fondation Zinsou, in conversation with the director of MAP, Kamini Sawhney. 

Fondation Zinsou was originally envisioned as a platform and exhibition centre for contemporary African artists, particularly those active in Benin’s art scene. By now its activities extend beyond the realm of art to include education and social development as well as the fight against poverty. Its accomplishments include the opening of an exhibition space in the city of Cotonou, six mini-libraries and a contemporary African art museum – Ouidah Museum.

The Director’s Cut series offers a glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today and presents a unique opportunity to hear from reputed practitioners in museums around the world as they reflect on their institutional experiences, behind-the-scenes challenges, unique initiatives and more.

2. Chai, Coffee & Conversations:

Stuart Freedman and Alana Hunt talk to Varun Nayar about exploring the social and political through the lens of the personal

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 28 August 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

From masala chai to filter kaapi, India’s a country of tea and coffee lovers. Bringing a unique perspective to conversations around these beloved beverages, this session features photographers Stuart Freedman and Alana Hunt in conversation with MAP Academy’s lead editor, Varun Nayar. 

Stuart Freedman is the author of The Palaces of Memory: Tales From the Indian Coffee House, that includes photographs from more than thirty branches of the India Coffee House across the country, and presents a unique window into a transforming India and the everyday life of its patrons and bearers. Alana Hunt is the creator and author of Cups of Nun Chai, a photo series and book that unfolded over two years of tea and conversation with 118 people, in Australia, India and Kashmir, documenting personal narratives and turning into a memorial for those who were killed in the summer of 2010 in Kashmir. Examining these bodies of works, this event will explore the artists’ take on history, politics, change and conflict through the lens of the personal. 

This event is in collaboration with Bangalore International Centre (BIC).

In Focus: A History of Studio Photography

This World Photography Day, discover exciting stories about the history of studio photography in India with MAP archivist Prachi Gupta.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 19 August 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

The earliest photo studios in India primarily served colonial interests or catered to the desires of the royal and the wealthy. Over time however, the experience of going to a studio was to become more accessible, even commonplace. And the studio became a space that catered to a range of people with a range of reasons for taking photographs. Today, the photo studio is a dying institution with limited applications. Many of its stories and those of the people it documented remain alive only in rarely preserved studio archives, museums and personal collections.

To celebrate World Photography Day, MAP looks at the history of studio photography in India through its collection. Join Prachi Gupta, an archivist at MAP, who explores the photo studio as an entry point into image-making and dissemination in a rapidly modernising India.

In Focus: A History of Studio Photography

This World Photography Day, discover exciting stories about the history of studio photography in India with MAP archivist Prachi Gupta.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 19 August 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

The earliest photo studios in India primarily served colonial interests or catered to the desires of the royal and the wealthy. Over time however, the experience of going to a studio was to become more accessible, even commonplace. And the studio became a space that catered to a range of people with a range of reasons for taking photographs. Today, the photo studio is a dying institution with limited applications. Many of its stories and those of the people it documented remain alive only in rarely preserved studio archives, museums and personal collections.

To celebrate World Photography Day, MAP looks at the history of studio photography in India through its collection. Join Prachi Gupta, an archivist at MAP, who explores the photo studio as an entry point into image-making and dissemination in a rapidly modernising India.

Utterly, Butterly, Relevant

The makers of the iconic Amul girl advertisements share their creative journey

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 7 August 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Meet the creative team who created the iconic Amul girl advertisements which have been part of the brand’s campaign since 1966, and part and parcel of all our visual lives since!

Hear from the makers Rahul da Cunha, Manish Jhaveri and Jayant Rane about how the Amul girl came to be, how she redefined the idea of ‘cooperative’ into ‘cool’, and the incredible topical nature of the advertisements.

This session will touch upon the journey of the Amul campaign, the creative process of putting each advertisement together, the challenges of keeping it humorous, relevant and topical and some of the team’s favourite advertisements over the years.

1. Love at First Swipe

Ankit Vengurlekar, Dr Dhiren Borisa and Bishakha Datta discuss the evolving cultures of love, dating and digital intimacy.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 24 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Today, technology has changed the ways in which we meet, connect and fall in love. This conversation broadly explores the changing landscape of romance and intimacy in the digital age in India as a sociological phenomenon, examining the surge in usage of dating apps during the pandemic.

Ankit Vengurlekar (co-producer of the Love Aaj Kal podcast), Dr Dhiren Borisa (a Dalit queer activist, poet and urban sexual geographer) and Bishakha Datta (filmmaker, activist and co-founder and executive director of Point of View) discuss evolving modes of cosmopolitan desire and expression in India, and how individuals may be cultivating socially distanced dating etiquettes and more in this new environment.

2. Gruesome Grub

Andreas Ahrens, Director of the Disgusting Food Museum, in conversation with Shilpa Vijayakrishnan

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 26 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

What is the one thing you would be horrified to see served to you at a dinner party? What is the food combination you love that has raised some serious eyebrows? Challenging such notions of what is and isn’t edible, with an exhibit that has 80 of the world’s most ‘disgusting’ foods and tickets that double as barf bags, is the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö, Sweden.

Join us for a conversation with its director, Andreas Ahrens, who speaks to Shilpa Vijayakrishnan about how the idea for the Museum came about, the qualifications for a ‘disgusting’ food, and the challenges of running a museum that boasts a tasting bar where some of the foods are made fresh every week. In the process, they explore how social and cultural contexts shape our perceptions of food, as delicious, strange, exotic and ‘disgusting’, and the politics of such perceptions.

Curated as part of the programming around the online exhibition Stories on a Banana Leaf.

1. Utterly, Butterly, Relevant

The makers of the iconic Amul girl advertisements share their creative journey

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 10 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Meet the creative team who created the iconic Amul girl advertisements which have been part of the brand’s campaign since 1966, and part and parcel of all our visual lives since!

Hear from the makers Rahul da Cunha, Manish Jhaveri and Jayant Rane about how the Amul girl came to be, how she redefined the idea of ‘cooperative’ into ‘cool’, and the incredible topical nature of the advertisements.

This session will touch upon the journey of the Amul campaign, the creative process of putting each advertisement together, the challenges of keeping it humorous, relevant and topical and some of the team’s favourite advertisements over the years.

2. The Life and Works of Kim Lim

Adele Tan (Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore), delves into the life and works of sculptor and printmaker Kim Lim.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 16 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

In this session of our Deep Dive series with Adele Tan (Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore), we delve into the life and works of Singapore-born British sculptor and printmaker Kim Lim (1936-1997), whose practice is receiving renewed attention in both the UK and Asia.

Using works in the collection of the National Gallery Singapore, Tan will discuss how different phases of the artist’s career and cultural influences can be read with and against the collecting approaches, presentational trajectories and strategies of the museum, which is now seeking to navigate pressures for new modes of decoloniality and positioning.

1. Say Cheese!

Discover the basics of food photography and refine your ‘foodstagramming game’

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 03 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

A beginner level food photography masterclass with one of the best in the business – stylist and photographer Rakhee Yadav. Learn more about using light, angles and backdrops for optimal effect in this one hour masterclass to improve your ‘foodstagramming’ game.

This masterclass caters particularly to people beginning to experiment with photography, and will focus more on photographing food with the phone – the most accessible and familiar genre at the moment. Q&A segments with Yadav, during the session, provide a unique opportunity to expand your understanding, and troubleshoot problems frequently encountered.

2. Utterly, Butterly, Relevant:

The makers of the iconic Amul girl advertisements share their creative journey

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 10 July 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Meet the creative team who created the iconic Amul girl advertisements which have been part of the brand’s campaign since 1966, and part and parcel of all our visual lives since!

Hear from the makers Rahul da Cunha, Manish Jhaveri and Jayant Rane about how the Amul girl came to be, how she redefined the idea of ‘cooperative’ into ‘cool’, and the incredible topical nature of the advertisements.

This session will touch upon the journey of the Amul campaign, the creative process of putting each advertisement together, the challenges of keeping it humorous, relevant and topical and some of the team’s favourite advertisements over the years.

Padma Bhushan awardee Vidya Dehejia explores the material life of Chola bronzes from South India

Sacred bronzes, dressed, adorned, and taken in procession through temple and town are a familiar sight throughout Tamil Nadu and its surrounding areas. But did we know that the practice of parading sacred images in this manner dates back at least 1500 years? And that adorning them with silks and jewels has a similar ancient ancestry?

Dr. Vidya Dehejia gives us glimpses of newly uncovered research material in her recent book, The Thief Who Stole My Heart: The Material Life of Sacred Bronzes from Chola India, 855-1280 (Princeton University Press, 2021).

She introduces us to this tradition that reached a peak during the period of Chola rule when master craftsmen created sensuous images for temples, patrons commissioned sets of jewellery to adorn them, and devotees arranged for temple food to be provided to all who attended these festivities. This way of life, that resulted in a congenial and connected community, thrived for centuries, through the British period and into contemporary India, as a vibrant tradition that has inspired devotees and poets, musicians and dancers and, more recently, museums and collectors.

Talking about the High Line in New York: A museum without a ceiling

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 23 June 2021
• Where: Online
• Register

Cecilia Alemani is the Artistic Director of the upcoming Venice Biennale (2022) and will be its first female, Italian director. She is also the Director and Chief Curator of the High Line in New York, an unusual public art space that she describes as a “museum without a ceiling”. 

Built on a historic, elevated railway line it offers visitors a walk through beautiful vegetation, spectacular art installations, performances, delicious food and a chance to connect with friends – all while enjoying a unique perspective of New York City. In this conversation, Cecilia will talk about what it means to bring together horticulture, architecture and art in a multilayered experience for visitors.

The Directors’ Cut series, hosted by MAP Director Kamini Sawhney, offers a glimpse into how the institution of the museum is being reimagined and reinvented today, and presents a unique opportunity to hear from reputed practitioners in museums around the world.

An exclusive director-led walkthrough of highlights from the MAP collection

Objects tell us stories we may never have imagined. Join MAP Director, Kamini Sawhney, on an exploration of some highlights from the MAP collection, as we together unlock the stories that these objects can tell.

• When: 6:00 PM (IST), 25 June 2021
• Where: Online

• When: 6:00 PM, 15 June 2021

1: Chola Festival Bronzes:

Padma Bhushan awardee Vidya Dehejia explores the material life of Chola bronzes from South India

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 12 June 2021
• Where: Online

Sacred bronzes, dressed, adorned, and taken in procession through temple and town are a familiar sight throughout Tamil Nadu and its surrounding areas. But did we know that the practice of parading sacred images in this manner dates back at least 1500 years? And that adorning them with silks and jewels has a similar ancient ancestry?

Dr. Vidya Dehejia gives us glimpses of newly uncovered research material in her recent book, The Thief Who Stole My Heart: The Material Life of Sacred Bronzes from Chola India, 855-1280 (Princeton University Press, 2021).

She introduces us to this tradition that reached a peak during the period of Chola rule when master craftsmen created sensuous images for temples, patrons commissioned sets of jewellery to adorn them, and devotees arranged for temple food to be provided to all who attended these festivities. This way of life, that resulted in a congenial and connected community, thrived for centuries, through the British period and into contemporary India, as a vibrant tradition that has inspired devotees and poets, musicians and dancers and, more recently, museums and collectors.

2. Two Takes on Bengaluru:

Artists Paul Fernandes and Cop Shiva speak to Darshana Ramdev about the city as muse

• When: 6:30 PM (IST), 16 June 2021
• Where: Online

Two artists – one, Paul Fernandes, a cartoonist and illustrator and the other, Cop Shiva, a photographer – come from different generations, work in different mediums and with diverse spaces and people in the city. In this session, they will showcase their artistic work and explore the theme of what, to them, informs the identity of Bengaluru as a city. 

Curated as part of the programming around the online exhibition Past Continuous which explores the ever-changing cityscape of Bengaluru through the work of Shanthamani M. in a series of photomontages. 

1. Reimagining Cloth in Contemporary Culture

4 June 2021 06:00 PM

Description: This discussion will examine themes like togetherness in making kantha and how urban and rural practitioners or designers are reinventing textile practices in our daily lives by empowering women and adopting slow fashion production. It features founders of the clothing brand Indigene, Ruchi Tripathi and Jaya Bhatt as well as social activist Shabnam Ramaswamy in conversation with Vaishnavi Kambadur, assistant curator at MAP.

Curated as part of the programming around the online exhibition Painted Stitches, Woven Stories.

2. Madhubani Art Class

5 June, 2021 04:00 PM

Description: Learn more about this popular art form, meet Avinash Karn who is making Madhubani paintings relevant to our times, and make a Madhubani painting for yourself under his guidance! Madhubani is a traditional Indian art form made on canvas, cloth or cow dung washed handmade paper. 

We encourage participants with any kind of difficulty related to hearing, speaking, learning, etc. to participate in the class.

If you are a participant of this nature, please write to  shruti.rao@map-india.org prior to registration and let us know the the nature of the difficulty and the accommodations that may be required. We will try our best to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with you. 

1. Virtual Walkthrough: A Lifetime of Stitches

May 18, 2021 06:00 PM

Description: After two successful, full house sessions, curators Arnika Ahldag and Vaishnavi Kambadur present a third edition of their intimate walkthrough of Painted Stitches, Woven Stories, an exhibition on kantha textiles, exploring the spiritual, religious and more intimate personalities of kanthas made in Undivided Bengal. This session has limited seats so book your spot now! https://map-india.org/map-events/a-lifetime-of-stitches-3/

2. Tattoos & Taboos:

May 22, 2021 06:00 PM

The conversation looks to examine body art as a living tradition, and will unpack the changing nature of contemporary tattoo culture in India, from a subversive act to a socially acceptable form of expression. In addition, this discussion looks at the cultural representation and appropriation of tribal/folk motifs, designs and patterns in the mainstream tattoo culture. 

This session features Moranngam Khaling  (the founder of Headhunters Ink and Godna Gram – The Tatoo Village), Viren Swami (Professor of Social Psychology,Anglia Ruskin University) and Sanjukta Basu (photographer of the Women with Tattoos series) in conversation with Prachi Gupta (Archivist at MAP, Bangalore)

https://map-india.org/map-events/tattoos-taboos/

1: Exploring ‘Transnational’ as a curatorial method

May 12, 2021 06:00 PM

Description: In this talk, Dr. Sook-Kyung Lee (Senior Curator, International Art, Tate Modern) shares how the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational (HTRC:T) engenders curatorial questioning of both the geopolitics of global art histories and the museum’s collections in a decolonial context. https://map-india.org/map-events/exploring-transnational-as-a-curatorial-method/

2: Every Picture Tells A Story

May 15, 2021 05:00 PM

Description: Wildlife photography is a unique genre of photography and handling a camera in fast-moving and dynamic situations require specific things to be kept in mind. Andy’s visually oriented masterclass will share some of these tips and techniques in a simple and easy to understand manner, which anyone interested in the genre can implement effortlessly and[…] https://map-india.org/map-events/every-picture-tells-a-story/

3: Virtual Walkthrough: A Lifetime of Stitches

May 18, 2021 06:00 PM

DescriptionAfter two successful, full house sessions, curators Arnika Ahldag and Vaishnavi Kambadur present a third edition of their intimate walkthrough of Painted Stitches, Woven Stories, an exhibition on kantha textiles, exploring the spiritual, religious and more intimate personalities of kanthas made in Undivided Bengal. This session has limited seats so book your spot now! https://map-india.org/map-events/a-lifetime-of-stitches-3/

Bharat Nivas is happy to announce its next webinar by Aryamani under the series “Performing Arts”. 
The Topic for Aryamani’s Webinar is  Staging Sri Aurobindo’s Plays and Savitri
In The Renaissance in India. Sri Aurobindo mentions the importance of giving new forms to the ancient Indian spirituality. This thought is an inspiration to us to continue our research. As a theater director, my research on Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri was preceded by the discovery of a less known aspect of Sri Aurobindo’s works : his theater plays.After the experience of staging four of Sri Aurobindo’s plays, to turn to Savitri was  a simple and direct movement.So, our first exploration on Savitri was presented in 2015 in the Matrimandir Gardens.  

A selection of verses : “Scenes from Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri”, gave the storyline of Savitri from the beginning till the end. It is followed, in 2017 and 2019 by  “Man, sole awake”… and … “Is this enough, O’ Spirit?” both presented in the Matrimandir Gardens.

Topic: “Staging Sri Aurobindo Plays and Savitri” by Aryamani

Time: January 20th, 2021 04:00 PM IST India

Online Access through Zoom:
https://zoom.us/j/99297594888?pwd=Ymd1cTF5VDVIcjc0QjJXUHAxV3lhdz09  
Meeting ID:  992 9759 4888  

Passcode: bnwebinars


Please note, those of you who are interested in these topics and do not have access to zoom are most welcome to hear it live at Bhumika Hall in Bharat Nivas. 

You are requested to be seated inside the hall latest by 3:45pm on the above mentioned date.


The Bharatnivas Team

Auroville Radio team wish you merry Xmas! Stay tuned!

Last published podcasts

• A talk by Dr. Anuradha Choudry “Sanskrit as Yoga” (Indian culture)
• Happiness, Love and Laughter – ep.69 “Santa’s Gifts” (Wellness)
• Soul Tracks – ep. 22 “Revolutions” (Music)
• Savitri, B. VII, C. VI, Part 3 (Integral yoga)
• The Academik Genius Brothers – The Making Off… ep.11 (Theatre)
• Aarohan – ep.12 “The Singing Sitar of Ustad Vilayat Khan “ (Music)
• Audible Weed Walk – “Wild greens: the ultimate opportunistic sustainable plants” (Edible weeds)
• The Tamil Literary Forum – ep.16 “முதல் தந்திரம்- கல்வி” (Tamil culture)
• Neo Urban Chronik – ep.26 “Do we deserve what we deserve ?”  (Humour)
• Marlenka’s Weekly Offering – ep.14 (Literature)

…and more! on www.aurovilleradio.org

For more information write to radio@auroville.org.in