Travel Diaries of Irish Pereira: February 2018

Kala ghoda art festival 2018

Event: A leisure walk at Kala Ghoda Art Festival, Colaba - Mumbai

Date: 9th February 2018

Introduction:

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is the one country's largest multicultural art festival, taking place in Mumbai in early February each year. The festival is centred on a theme each year, and this year’s theme is Hara Ghoda: to promote a sustainable future for our planet.

This year this festival was organised for 9 days starting 3 Feb to 11 February. This art

Festival has series of simultaneous events and activities under various categories including theatre, dance, music, food and more. The aim of the festival is to promote and encourage arts of all kinds.

It was friday i.e 9th Feb and weekend for me when I decided to visit the kala ghoda festival only for its arts installations near Jehangir art gallery after my work hours. I along with my colleague reached the venue at around 6 pm or so. Being weekend it was very crowded by then. Almost all of crowd comprised of young collegians dispora across mumbai and suburbs. Also professional artists with their DSLR's were roaming to capture art installations along the prominede. There was lot of positive energy seen among the youths.

Despite being overcrowded, it was under heavy security cover with cameras and police manning it closely. The crowd prevented one from taking good photographs of art installations as each amauters want to take selfie it each and every installation. Despite all odds i managed to get few pics with its description which are as below.

Skywards

Indian cities are constantly evolving and morphing at an alarming rate in turn puts lots of pressure on the living beings, communities and environment. The installation represents the results of our selfish relentless dreams, houses scrambling on top of one another vying for every inch of space and destroying the very natural habitat we thrive in.

Skywards

They Surrendered

Considering the rapid transformation of Mumbai into a concrete jungle, the art installation aims to highlight the indiscriminate cutting of trees in name of development. Blinded by development, there are few advocating for lives of trees who themselves cannot speak for themselves and being massacred in this quest for development. This installation depicts trees hanging upside down (committing suicide) for making way for development. It aims to appeal to safeguard trees along with development.

They Surrendered

Tree60 Degrees

The installation is created by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanrahalaya (CSMVS) that beautifully portrays the concept of urbanisation. One can see how the tree is cut and its buildings are constructed while on the other hand it is applied haldi-kumkum considering it holy.

Tree60 Degrees

Elemental Earth

This installations depicts earth made up of iron gears, chains and such similar metallic spares.

Elemental Earth

I am That I am

The installation is made using mirrors proving the fact that life is like a mirror showing the viewer what he/she thinks of it.

I am that i am

Kalpavriksha

The wish-fulling tree represents different facets of Maharashtra one would love to experience as a tourist. In the installation, the tree represents Maharashtra while the branches represent beaches, cuisines, and history. There was also an angelic being (an artiste) taking selfie at he Kalpvriksha.

Kalpvavriksha - Angel taking selfie

Yet another Kalpavriksha

Embodying National Unity

The installation embodies our national unity. The entire installation represents India’s map while its demographics are portrayed through the water as the elements of nature.

Embodying National Unity

Disconnet to Connect

Beauty of Transparency

Faces of Nature

Five Element's tree

Tree of Comfort

Olive oil promoting tower

I need some Air Tower

Within 'I need some air' Tower

After strolling near Jahangir art gallery prominede for an hour and half, i visited the the art installations at Oval maidan near Churchgate station. Below are some of the art installations installed there.