Jeeva Prahaava ‘Life Flow’ – Attakkalari Centre, Bangalore, India
Introduction
In late 2023, Kinetika Artistic Director, Ali Pretty travelled to Bangalore, India to work with 13 students from Sristhi Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology as an international artist in the Srishti Interim Artist Residency.
The residency taught students new silk painting skills and the group worked together to create 24 new abstract pennants which would be used in performances by dancers from the Attakkalari Centre, led by choreographer, Jayachandran Palazhy.
Students first explored their city to photograph key locations, Ali then helped them turn the imagery into ‘Kandinsty’ inspired abstract patterns that reflect the Bangaluru cityscape.
The pennants were created as a key part of two performances – one on the 22 December 2023 when 100 students from Srishti, faculty from the University, dancers from Attakkalari and international collaborators held an exciting performance – and the second, taking place across the streets of Bangalore, for the opening of the Attakkalri India Biennial on 10 February 2024.
Image: Ali Pretty
The Making of the ‘Jeeva Prahaava’ Pennants:
Once the abstract designs were applied to the silk pennants, Ali worked with students to paint them with bright, engaging colours.
These pennants were then first used in an exciting performance at Srishti University on 22 December.
See the 22 December performance of ‘Jeeva Prahaava’ – ‘Life Flow’ at Srishti University (c) Attakkalri Centre, here.
Images: Ali Pretty
India Biennial 2024
On 10 February 2024, Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts launched the 11th India Biennial with ‘Jeeva Pravaaha’, a captivating journey through the heart of Bengaluru with a transdisciplinary open-air promenade performance.
The theme of the 2024 Biennial was ‘City Kinetic’, focusing on environment, sustainability and wellness. This event was a collaboration between Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, the Karnataka Tourism Department, Unboxing Bangalore, Srishti Manipal Institute, the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India & Kinetika, London. The performance unfolded along Church Street, Brigade Road, Rangoli Metro, and culminated at Attakkalari’s scenic lakeside land in Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL)
‘Jeeva Pravaaha,’ directed by Attakkalri’s Artistic Director Jayachandran Palazhy, is a mesmerizing exploration of contemporary life in Bengaluru.
On 10 Feb, all were invited to walk with the procession accompanied by musicians through the streets of the city, as well as along Sulikere Lake to Attakkalari’s land. As the evening set in, there were exciting performances featuring folk and contemporary music, dance and visual projections by Japanese artist Kunihiko Matsuo. Kinetika’s Silk River scrolls added an additional touch of vibrancy to the event as a backdrop around the performance area.
Imagery from Jeeva Pravaaha on 10 February 2024, Bangalore, India (c) Attakkalari:
