The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Bipin Kokate
Baby Steps
A woman finds a vantage spot on the steps of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai’s library at Horniman Circle to photograph two little posers on Wednesday.
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Jab we met at the Poet’s Corner
It’s bad enough that this diarist hasn’t aced the Fastest Finger First game to get her jab in any centre of Mumbai (or even Thane). But when seasoned Brit author and actor Stephen Fry tweeted a post that he had his second dose at Westminster Abbey, it made us go green with envy. He tweeted: “A happy return to Vaxminster Jabbey for my second dose...Keats and Shelley were watching. “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” the latter wondered. Well, this year yes, apparently ...”’ Turns out, the UK’s National Health Service had converted the Poets Corner at the famous landmark into a vaccination centre in March. It made us wonder if such an option would ever open up in Mumbai. The Town Hall? Mumbai University’s campus? That would be the day.
With the city as her muse
(From left) Astral and Soaring (prints on canvas) from The Lockdown Series
Mumbai-based artist Akshita Gandhi will soon see her collection titled The Lockdown Series displayed online, via the Gallery Perchée. The gallery is displaying 10 chosen pieces that were inspired by the aesthetics of Mumbai’s colonial architecture. “This is a special show for me because under our current circumstances, we, artists, are blessed with the power of our imagination.
Akshita Gandhi
Through our work, we can travel into parallel dimensions and through time. In this series, I have used photographs I had taken of Mumbai and Zurich before the pandemic changed the world and worked on them digitally, adding a surreal touch. I wanted to remind viewers that during the direst times, it is possible to believe and dream — no one can take that away from us,” she shared about her inspiration. The show, titled Architecture of Elsewhere, will be on display at the virtual gallery until July 15. Head to galleryperchee.com to check it out.
A new generation of eco-warriors
As is evident from the ongoing discourse surrounding the role of global warming in amplifying the severity of Cyclone Tauktae, the youth today are an informed bunch, especially in matters concerning the environment. New research commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature to mark International Day for Biodiversity on May 22 confirms this observation. The report mentions a 65 per cent increase in the number of Twitter mentions amplifying concern for nature worldwide, with mentions of nature and biodiversity increasing from 30 million to 50 million in the last four years. The number of nature-related searches has been growing, driven primarily by Asian countries such as India (a 190 per cent increase). There has also been a 71 per cent increase in searches for sustainable goods globally.
Championing the adolescent cause
We had previously mentioned on this page about non-profit Project Mumbai’s SAMVAAD mental health helpline that was launched during the pandemic. Now, the group has chosen to focus on the specific needs of adolescents. “Callers can select categories that are suited to their needs such as grief, domestic abuse and adolescent issues,” said Tanvi Sambrani, its project officer. Call 18001024040 to seek help.
Say it like Sonali
The Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy has shared a series of videos featuring actor Sonali Kulkarni who shares tips to preserve mental wellbeing. The videos have been shot in Hindi, English and Marathi, to make them more accessible. “I have been advocating for mental health awareness for nearly 15 years now, and especially the importance of seeking professional help. The pandemic has turned the world upside down. Domestic violence is on the rise, as is caregiver fatigue. Such issues go largely unaddressed. These videos are an attempt to change that,” she told us. To watch and share the videos, visit @CMHLPIndia on Twitter.
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