Abhivyakti – The City Arts Project – an initiative of UNM Foundation of the Mehta family of Torrent Group is set to return to Vadodara with its power-packed performances in theatre, dance and music. After successfully completing first event in Vadodara last year, Abhivyakti will organise its second event in the city on February 17 and 18, 2024.
The two-day festival will be organised under the banner of Abhivyakti Vadodara bringing some of the most-admired and sought-after performances from Abhivyakti’s Edition-5 that was held in Ahmedabad during November-December 2023.
The performances on the first day, i.e. February 17 include a theatre performance titled “Gandalal Nu Fuleku” by Pramath and a dance performance by Jayesh & Nandini titled “Pulse of the Crowd”. On the second day, February 18, a musical performances by Mukt Band titled “The UnHERd”, and “Swavidhan” by Kavish Sheth will be organised. All the performances will be organised at Alembic Art District, Vadodara and the entry is open to all.
The performances have been curated by leading art curators including Bhargav Purohit in music, Chirag Modi in theatre and Jaimil Joshi in dance along with Kathanki Raval Sheth as assistant curator for dance. The performances under this edition of Abhivyakti were mentored by the celebrated names in the art fraternity, Daksha Sheth (Dance), Rajat Dholakia (Music) and Saumya Joshi (Theatre).
Since its first edition in 2018, this one-of-its-kind arts project has witnessed participation from over 330 artists from across India on a platform provided by the UNM Foundation’s initiative. Over the years, Abhivykati has gained scale and admiration as more than 2.6 lakh people have already witnessed the performances across all the past editions. The UNM Foundation has also organised two-day events in Surat (February 2023), and Vadodara (September, 2023).
In this latest edition, Abhivyakti Vadodara attempts to bring forth and breathe life into stories and tell us that #EveryStoryMatters. This will bring forth the diverse voices and perspectives that converge in the vast tapestry of human stories.
“Gandalal Nu Fuleku” by Pramath on February 17 at 7.15 pm will have theatre artist Pramath in his of post modern folk genre performance “Gandalal nu Fuleku” that brings forth the narrative of a traditional wedding through a traditional wedding chronicle with a twist of Folk music and Fatana. This production chronicles the journey of two zamindars looking to get their kids married, a classic mess-up causing the girl to marry a mentally unstable man, and a string of bizarre events. Pramath, armed with a master’s degree in Theatre Arts, boasts a rich 12-year tenure in the theatre industry.
“The Pulse Of The Crowd” by Jayesh Dutt & Nandini Jani at 9.15 pm is a gripping performance in the genre of Fusion-Western, Contemporary and Kathak. A drama graduate, Jayesh Dutt and Kathak dancer Nandini Jani collaborate on Abhivyakti stage showcasing a blend of dance styles like Waacking, Hip-Hop, and Kathak making a splendid display of the concept of mob mentality – a crucial theme in psychology. Through the performance, they aim to illustrate the distinction between the collective and the individual. Additionally, their performance delves into how a group mindset can hinder individual thinking and personal growth, ultimately leading to destructive consequences.
“The UnHERd” by Mukt Band on February 18 at 7.15 pm is a musical performance that celebrates the centuries of profound poetry by Indian Women. Their performance pays a homage to the underappreciated literary prowess of female Indian poets, spanning centuries from the 14th to luminaries like Sarojini Naidu, Amrita Pritam, and Kamala Das. The Indie-classical performance is harmoniously weaved together with poetry from various regions, infusing traditional melodies into their evocative renditions. Mukt is a literary ensemble that elegantly harmonizes the verses of poets like Kabir Das, Ibn-E-Insha, and Nida Fazli into soul-stirring music, infusing their performances with profound values and humanity.
“Swavidhan” by Kavish Sheth at 9.15 pm presents a blend of songs, poetry, and ‘rasms’ in his gripping performance with complexities of existence, which he refers to as a ‘personal constitution’. Through his musical narrative, he showcases that while life’s circumstances may not always be under our control, he eloquently communicates the sentiment of living. He’s the inventor of the innovative instrument ‘Noori,’ and has performed across India and internationally, and is the driving force behind ‘Zubaan,’ a collaborative platform for independent artists.
Abhivyakti – The City Arts Project is an endeavor of UNM Foundation of Mehta Family of the Torrent Group, which envisions making art an integral part of the social fabric, by enabling access for audiences without constraint of location, thresholds (physical and individual) and social or economic strata by free entry.
Towards such a vision the mission is to identify and support budding talent. And then provide the appropriate platform for these artists of all genre to present their craft to the city and its populace. Abhivyakti, is poised to open a new chapter in the Art and Cultural Landscape of Vadodara and as a festival to look forward.
Abhivyakti encompasses many myriad art forms ranging from dance, music, painting, photography, installations and theatre. Abhivyakti aims at bringing international quality art to the people, absolutely free.
Art lovers can log on to www.abhivyaktiart.org for event schedule or Dial 7069104444/7069105555 for the performance of their choice.
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