One can rarely find art festivals where artists and researchers come together to showcase their creativity on the same platform. Starting December, Project AMSOE will bring more than 65 artists and collaborators from various cutting-age mediums together on the same platform. These include emerging and established artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, experienced activists, thinkers and do-ers. The brainchild behind this inter-disciplinary arts festival is Delhi-based performing artist Pratiksha Jain.
Explaining the event, Jain says, “This is the first file project where scientists, visual artists, and performing artists ranging from experimental theatre artists to dancers, puppeteers to hula hoop artists as well as scientists will perform together.”
29-year-old Jain has been a performing artist since her school days. In 2011, while she was pursuing PGDM in biotechnology, she chose to be a performance artist. Since she came from the same background, she realised that the road to global fame was not easy for the Indian artists. They lack resources and funds. Due to this, their quality of work also suffers. With an aim to create a platform in order to help artists expand their wings, she conceptualised Project AMSOE.
“Initially, I thought of working for the performing artists but realised that other segments will suffer. Instead, I thought of bringing a platform where creativity and innovation connects everyone and thus came up with Project AMSOE,” she says.
The festival will also display a range of interesting installations and artworks by young contemporary artists such as Shivangi Ladha, Renu Bariwal, Namrata Chhabria’ POPA, Mohan Jangid, Venus Thokchom, Nelson Thangjam and The Human Library.
Highlighting about the performances, Jain says, “The first week is called week of movement. The second week is the week of spectacle. There are two big productions happenings during this time—one by NDLS (drama) and other one by Deepak Kurki Shivaswamy and Manju Sharma (dance). The third week is called work of sonority where Ajay Sharma, the owner of Rikhi Ram Indian Musical Instruments, will demonstrate his innovative instruments through a performance and Sumit Kumar, the owner of Cryptocipher, will give innovative digital sound presentation. In the fourth week, people will experience experimental music and sand art presentation.”
Renowned Puppeteer Puran Bhatt, who will perform the first week, is bringing together traditional and contemporary puppets in the show. “This performance is different from the rest of my performances because it will be a solo one. I will highlight the benefits of the traditional puppets viz-a-viz contemporary ones. It is not based on any story but it will talk more about the forms, operation and the power puppets have in bringing out messages,” he says.
Pawas Aakarsh and Kimberley Rodrigues are showcasing a collaboration, that will be one of a kind. In this, Kimberley will narrate and Pawas will use three dimensional digital mapping. “While Kimberley will be reciting, a part of it will be shown through an audio visual. I am doing a projection mapping on her face by adding visual effects on her face, which will depict the emotions with which she will be reciting,” he says.
Other performers who will add stars to the festival include contemporary dancer Vikram Mohan, Neha Singh of The Human Library and Dr Sobhan Sen.
Project AMSOE will kickstart from December 1 at the Warehouse, Dhan Mill Compound in Chattarpur and will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
