The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Lilfe on track: A railway staffer carries out maintenance work near Goregaon station. Pic/Anurag Ahire
Old sarees, new avatars
Joy Bimal Roy
We had previously written in this page, about how designer Joy Bimal Roy had started a saree upcycling project, Touch of Joy. In line with his venture, the Kala Ghoda-based ARTISANS’ gallery had started a saree bank to give old sarees a new lease of life. Yesterday, on Earth Day, the gallery hosted an interesting Instagram live session with Roy and Savitha Suri, of Anvaya Narratives, on how one can be a saree saviour. “Saving a saree also means saving a legacy and remaking a memory,” pointed out Radhi Parekh, founder-director, ARTISANS’. In the session, Roy and Suri touched upon a few aspects of the project. “One is the idea of donating a saree, which is upcycled, and then forwarding a part of the proceeds to Shanti Avedna Sadan cancer hospice. There’s also the larger issue of social barriers that hinder recycling in India, such as caste,” Parekh shared, adding that one can contribute by dropping off hand-woven or hand-printed sarees at their gallery.
Hail women power
City-based NGO One Future Collective is kicking off the One Future Festival today, their first community-led, feminist festival. Over the span of three days, the festival will witness events such as workshops, panel discussions, creative corners and community spaces centred around the themes of gender justice, digital rights, mental health, art, cinema, theatre and more. “The festival will provide a space for learning about community, art and activism, and allow people to engage through co-creation activities,” festival director Jerin Jacob told this diarist. “Keeping in mind the pandemic, the event is completely free of cost. Each participant who registers receives an all-access attendee toolkit. We will direct all Festival donations to our fundraiser campaign towards supporting the mental health needs of COVID-19 warriors,” she added. To register log on to @onefuturecollective on Instagram.
Take a stand for Shivaji Nagar
A staff member at work in Shivaji Nagar
“Despite the state government’s announcement to provide relief to those affected by the new COVID-19 restrictions, there’s going to be a substantial number of people who will not be covered,” pointed out Arun Kumar (inset), CEO of the non-profit Apnalaya, reasoning that according to their research in the M-East ward of Shivaji Nagar, 38 per cent of the communities they work with do not have ration cards. Add to this the fact that in this past year, not much was done to bring more informal workers into the social security net, and now, a near-lockdown scenario, the most vulnerable section of the society will continue to suffer, he added. This is why Apnalaya has initiated a door-to-door relief material donation drive and a fundraiser for the area. “In the first round, we plan to reach out to pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities and children,” he added. Each ration kit can serve a family of around five for about three weeks. Head to apnalaya.org/donation/to do your bit.
Hong Kong calling
Gaze under your skin, bronze, kinetic sculpture, motor, soil by Patil
Drawing inspiration from the lives of sanitisation workers, Parel-based artist Amol K Patil’s sculpture, Gaze under your skin, has been selected as one of the contenders for the Hong Kong-based Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2021. The prize was launched to highlight the works of artistes on an international platform. The bronze, kinetic sculpture, Patil told us, is inspired by the conditions of sanitisation workers, the toxic air they breathe and the dark waters they tread. “The vibrating, kinetic movements [in the sculpture] represent the act of breathing and the effect of the workers’ labour on their bodies. I have documented how they work. What also interested me was how they work in the morning, and then do other activities like singing and theatre in the evening,” he told this diarist. He also requires public votes to make it as a winner, so back his nomination by heading to sovereignartfoundation.com.
Desi reel aboard UK express
City-based actor Akriti Singh is making waves with her directorial debut Toofan Mail that has been chosen as the opening film at the Belgrade Theatre for the UK Asian Film Festival. The independent reel is centred on the story of a woman who arrived at New Delhi railway station in the 1970s claiming to be the Queen of Awadh, seeking to meet former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “It’s heartening that the film has received so much love from all those who’ve watched it. I am looking forward to the audience’s reaction. We are planning a theatrical release of the film, although there is too much uncertainty right now,” she shared.
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