‘What The Camera Didn’t See’ at Museum of Art and Photography – A Unique Confluence of Past and Present
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‘What The Camera Didn’t See’ at Museum of Art and Photography – A Unique Confluence of Past and Present

“There’s stillness in photographs and to bring out life, to give it a motion, I try my best”, says the artist Alexander Gorlizki. The moment you enter the Infosys Foundation Gallery of the Museum of Art and Photography you’ll notice a unique confluence of our past and present. The rich culture, the gold memories which are just captured inside a frame side by side with a vibrant artwork which has colours, geometric shapes, reimagined animals, reimagined dress and what not! And all you would be able to say is WOW!! It’s been almost a year since the Museum of Art and Photography made its space on the popular street of Bangalore and since then it has been making a noise for its gripping exhibitions. To be honest, since the day it opened up, I had been dreaming of visiting space but a 9-5 slave often misses the beauty of little things. But recently luck knocked upon my door when I got to know the new exhibition ‘What The Camera Didn’t See’ is up. Without much ado I visited the place and was mesmerised with art pouring its magic on me.  If I have to summarise ‘What The Camera Didn’t See’-  it explores the interplay between the two mediums, breathing life into the formal compositions from vintage photographs and those from the museum’s collection. Through the 23 artworks in this exhibition, Alexander Gorlizki conceptualises fantastical reimaginings of static moments by injecting a new dimension of the contemporary. While Pink City Studio adds colour and patterns into the scenes, together transforming images of royalty, common folk, architecture, and nature into whimsical narratives. ‘What The Camera Didn’t See’ transcends the rigidity of historical documentation, inviting viewers to question traditional interpretations. As ‘outside’ elements merge with the images from the past, multi-layered compositions emerge, challenging our perception of time and place. Going back to the beauty of art and the conversation with the artists, the idea of creating a masterpiece and the effort to bring it to a piece was astonishing. As I walked through the gallery, Alexander went on explaining “I always see these pictures where our grandparents or great grandparents have these Stern faces, and I always wanted to give more life to those cherished memories.” With the artisans of Pink Studio led by Riyaz Uddin, Alexander reimagined a world where “what if” was possible. Let’s imagine our grandparents’ or great grandparents’ picture with lots of vibrancy, geometric patterns, and shades that keep growing intricate as you observe more. Or imagine your favourite monument embracing the colours but not on the pillars or walls but as an appendage that sprouts from it, giving an overall depth. Or let your imagination run wilder and imagine the royalties with Pinocchio noses and wonder how did that grow or if you are satirist then probably why did it grow only this much?  Well, the answers are not there, and there lies the beauty of art that Alexander is presenting at MAP. “I want the visitors to observe and let their imagination run in every direction. Just like poems I want them to look deeper and try to find out a meaning, a little mental exercise maybe”, says the artist. But the latest exhibition is not just about mental exercise but also encourages involvement. In this busy world, it throws a wonderful task at you with its arrangement. Each of the artwork is curated over an old photograph but rather than presenting it side by side, the arrangement has been in such a way that you tend to memorise it. It’s a little play that evokes a childlike excitement when you find the original picture in the gallery and then again run off to the recreated artwork, only to witness the amazing work. What else adds to the astonishment is the unique names of each artwork.  “We did not want the artist’s work to be hidden behind the text heavy description, we wanted people to read the name, find the relatability of the artwork with the name and wonder what has been put in front of them”, say the curators of ‘What The Camera Didn’t See’. The exhibition is one of the kind which you should not miss. Each artwork not only transports us to a realm of imagination but also highlights the work of over 25 artists. “We have a team of 20+ artists out of which at least 5-6 constantly worked on a single artwork and it took them 2-3 years to complete all the art pieces”, says Riyaz Uddin. He also explains how these artists bring a new dimension to the world of art and how he has witnessed the increase in the number of female participation.    The unique exhibition is part of Art is Life: Old Threads, New Stories, dedicated to the celebration of art, culture and discourse. This year the festival is  apart of the city wide Unboxing BLR Habba –  a celebration of Bengaluru’s rich and vibrant cultural heritage.  P.S. – Do visit Museum of Art and Photography and immerse yourself in a world of art, where old threads intertwine with new beginnings, and where stories are retold and reimagined in countless ways.   By: Arshiya Gauhar

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Renaissance Hotel Ahmedabad Revives ‘Evenings At Renaissance’ To Mark The 9th Edition Of The Global Day Of Discovery
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Renaissance Hotel Ahmedabad Revives ‘Evenings At Renaissance’ To Mark The 9th Edition Of The Global Day Of Discovery

  Marking the 9th anniversary of the Global Day of Discovery, Renaissance Hotel Ahmedabad organized a remarkable event filled with guided tours, local cuisine, traditional music, and more, offering guests an immersive experience of Ahmedabad’s alluring rich culture and history. With the hotel and travel industries getting back into full swing, guests traveling both for business and leisure are looking for authentic local experiences. “We are thrilled to be a part of the 9th edition of the Global Day of Discovery celebrations with other Renaissance Hotels across the globe,” said Rohit Dasgupta, General Manager of Renaissance Hotel Ahmedabad. “Today’s travellers look for a genuine connection with the locale, and we are committed to captivating our neighborhood with moments that give our guests something beautiful and unexpected to experience along their journey.” The highlight of the celebration was a memorable Heritage Walk, exclusively organized for the residence guests, prominent socialites along with hotel associates. Led by knowledgeable and professional tour guide Murtuza, participants embarked on a captivating exploration of Ahmedabad’s heritage, starting from Swaminarayan Mandir, Kalupur at 6:30 a.m. The journey concluded at the vibrant Manek Chowk Jumma Masjid leaving a lasting impression on all participants Adding to the excitement, guests were treated to a beautiful Garba performance by the Saptak folk dance group, one of the leading traditional Indian folk dance troupes that have performed on more than 500 stage shows at international levels. The Saptak dance troupe, adorned in vibrant attire, showcased their best Garba moves, creating an electrifying atmosphere. The event further offered an immersive Warli painting session by a famous artist, Tulsi Das. Warli paintings are practiced by artisans from Gujarat’s Dang district, which convey unique stories through simple art with symbolic meanings. Guests also had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on painting experience, exploring their creativity and appreciating the artistic heritage of Gujarat. Additionally, a special Charkha demonstration was conducted, paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi’s profound connection to Gujrat by the Avani Varia who is associated with the promotion of India’s culture, indigenous textiles, non-textile crafts and art. The Global Day of Discovery event at Renaissance Hotel Ahmedabad successfully showcased the hotel’s commitment to providing guests with elevated experiences and authentic local encounters, promoting the artisans community  and creating lasting memories, and deepening their connection with the destination.

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Coconut And Beef? Kerala Has More Than That
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Coconut And Beef? Kerala Has More Than That

If you’re a seafood lover, you have to make a trip to God’s Own Country – Kerala. Kerala is known not only for coconut and beef, but it is also the place of survivors who place art close to their hearts. What’s special about Kerala’s art and culture, you ask? Kerala has some unique treasures apart from Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Kalaripayattu, but there’s also a lot more than that. Mirrors of Aranmula Unlike the regular mirrors, the smooth surface of Aranmula Kannadi which reflects the image is made with a metal alloy. This handmade metal mirror is considered as an auspicious object to keep in households as it brings prosperity, luck and wealth. Aranmula Kannadi needs proper maintenance including keeping it away from dust and heat under room temperature. There are special techniques to wipe the mirror to remove finger stains and other marks also. Most importantly, this unique artistic secret formula is only known to a single extended family in Aranmula, (a village in the district of Pathanamthitta) and it is believed that this family is brought from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu. Nettoor Petti Have you seen the traditional jewellery box of Kerala? It is known as the Nettoor Petti which is the specialty of Nettoor, a village near Kozhikode. Nettoor Petti is a partial handmade product including the hinges and nails. The boxes are made with country woods, and the pyramidal lid of the box makes it more attractive and unique. The exterior ornamental works and the intricate patterns of the Nettoor Petti are inspired by the temple architecture and traditional art of forms of Kerala. Cochin International Airport Art Arcade Terminal 2 of the Cochin International Airport has undergone a face-lift recently. The terminal was renovated with around Rs 240 crore with state-of-the-art facilities alongwith traditional Kerala architecture. The Kerala Art Arcade in Cochin Airport is installed near the security check area and is the main attraction of the airport. With the theme of Ettukettu (a traditional huge house style of India), with all the features including a ‘nadumittam’ (center courtyard) with a ‘Koothambalam’ replica and mural paintings, the Art Arcade displays the state’s traditional dance forms including Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Ottanthullal, Koothu, Theyyam and more. Payyannur Pavithra Mothiram It is believed that rings could bring luck and prosperity to people and Kerala has an extraordinary ring called Pavithra Mothiram of Payyannur, which is considered as a sacred ornament. The Pavithra Mothiram is shaped like a knot and like the Aranmula Kannadi, the sole right to make this holy ring is vested in the hands of a particular family at Payyannur in Kannur district. Uru Model Uru represents an integral cultural benchmark in Kerala’s history. Uru is a majestic vessel with an impressive design and known for its ability to ferry long distance successfully. These historic trading vessels were introduced by Arab traders and eventually became popular in Malabar (Northern Kerala) and Beypore in Kozhikode. Due to the difficulties in producing this Urus, their smaller models came to the market and later became a great symbolic reminder of the area’s colourful past. Sandalwood Oil Have you heard about ‘Liquid Gold‘? It is the Sandalwood Oil which is enough to capture the fancy of most people with the alluring aroma and unique rejuvenating properties. No one can resist the charm of Sandalwood Oil due to the divine perfume and it has a high demand across the world. Especially when it comes to Kerala’s natural Sandalwood Oil. Kerala’s Sandalwood Forests are restricted to Wayanad and Marayoor and the Sandalwood Factory run by the Forest Department has drawn in people for centuries. Mural Painting of Kerala Do you have a fascination with the mural paintings? Well, the god’s own country is one of the best locations to view the murals based on ancient Indian mythology (Puranas). The oldest murals of Kerala belong to Thirunandikkara Cave Temple and the largest mural panel in Kerala, the Gajendra Moksha, is at the Krishnapuram Palace near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district. You can see great adaptions of the Ramayana and Bhagavathatha presented at the Mattancherry Palace in Ernakulam and the Ettumanoor Shiva Temple will give you insights about the earliest forms of Dravidian mural art. Ramacham Vishari Kerala’s famous Ramacham Vishari is made with Vettiveria which is widely known for their potent medicinal purposes, Ramacham Vishari works as the poor man’s air conditioner. The breeze from the Ramacham Vishari is not only refreshingly cool but also healthy. Ramacham Vishari was widely used to the heat of the Kerala summer. Even though Ramacham Vishari is replaced with electrical amenities, it still is the luxurious ethnic item seen in Kerala homes. Sandalwood Figurine Do you know that a sprinkling of water on the sandalwood sculpture can perfume your room for days together? Sandalwood Figurines are indeed expensive, but the fragrance of these sandalwood sculptures of Kerala make them popular souvenirs. Carved Ganapathy statues (the elephant-headed god), the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva), Krishna, Nataraja and others are some popular artefacts. Kerala offers handcrafted sandalwood sculptures across the state which are considered as the sample of Kerala craftsmen’s skill. Hay Art Kerala is known for the popular cottage industry of straw pictures which finds a good market during festivals like Onam, Christmas, New Year. They even come in the form of greeting cards and the beautiful straw art that includes every spellbinding sight of Kerala including the backwaters and the evening sky, village fairs and festivals, vallomkali (boat race), hills and valleys, huts and hamlets and more.    

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