Thursday, February 25, 2016

We Made Magic Happen!

The magic lingers on!
The nine days
 I spent at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2016 
have been memorable.
So much creativity
 so many bright colours 
so many visitors 
all at one place unbelievable!

Here I post
 some more pictures
 of other installations
 and pieces of art
 besides My Chai Tamaasha!

Including the photos of my art installation made from one thousand reused teabags.
I especially love this photo !!






















I know you have enjoyed each bit here!
Keep visiting :)








Tuesday, February 16, 2016

My Chai Tamaasha

Haven't you all been waiting to hear from me?
I know ...I know
Waiting to hear about my story
about my art installation that I have been telling you about in the last few posts.
Ok so make yourself a nice cup of hot tea 
and while you savour each sip 
I tell you all about 
My Chai tamaasha
now if you have been a regular visitor here
you must have read all about my love for tea/ chai
and how I was inspired 
and how this delicate flimsy tiny teabag became my canvas.

So the Kala Ghoda Art Festival began In Mumbai on
the 6th of February and ended just yesterday i.e. 14th of February.
I will be sharing the magic of all these nine days in this post and some more posts to come
because there are many many moments to relive with you.






So that was my concept board!
I began with making a frame for my Chai glass!!
and this is how it turned up!
I always collect teabags for making art but this time the number required was huge.
I asked my friends to contribute and also requested some Cafes in the locality to 
give me the used teabags every evening.
Blessed I am...everyone helped!!


India’s obsession for Chai
 is rooted in the timeless tradition 
of stopping for a moment to connect with one another.
 It will not be wrong
 to say that 
the magical aroma of Chai 
is
 India’s signature fragrance.


Art is universal 
and has the power to overcome the boundaries 
and reach out to hearts in a jiffy 
and so is the case with a hot cup of tea!


 When we sip a sweet 
warm cup of chai 
we relax and let our guard down, 
the inhibitions are thrown away 
and a space is created for a conversation! 
For some people a cup of tea/ a glass of Chai
 is a moment of reflection 
where every sip whispers a thought! 
For others who are away and out,
 it serves as a warm hug from home.

 Bonds are strengthened over a cup of tea for sure!


 Both art and chai,
 in their old and new avatars, 
crossing boundaries
 and blending with unknown flavors…
 reach and satiate those who are AR-TEA-STIC.
  










The recycled teabags

 used in the installation

 symbolize a thousand and a half cups of tea

 which played their part in bringing hearts closer "without borders". 




Each little teabag here has a story in its heart…
happy moments, 
laughters, new beginnings, 
and some sad tales too…
each of them has the mighty power
 to tug at your heart strings!




And the cutting chai glass especially for my new love …“Mumbai”.





It is a treat of taste, 
aroma and memory 
which visually comes alive in this installation.


The process of making 
this installation from teabags
has just been like meditation. 
While working with these teabags,
 as always, 
I had to slow down and acknowledge 
the little yet precious moments in my life.
 I used this zen like teabag language
 to satiate the artist within 
and celebrate 
interconnectedness without borders.



Stay tuned 
because there is a lot more coming up
 about the festival 
and I will be showing you 
some more super creative installations in my next post!!



Thursday, January 28, 2016

CreaTEAvity !!



Whenever I see a teabag
 I always wonder
 what a tiny little package of adventure...
exciting mysterious beautiful
 cozy and sweet little adventure!!

Tea has the charisma
 to bring hearts closer
Us indian families 
(especially)
 can actually say so !
Our day begins with a cup of masala chai
Now this masala may vary in every kitchen
then breakfast with everyone and you have tis humble drink again
after you are back from office after a tired day
tea with your spouse is the most luxurious thing you could enjoy!




  The glass, the warmth, the tea
the strangers, the friends, the family
the laughters, the smiles or a sad story
squeezing the moments...in the vapours of memory!



My installation work 
for  KalaGhoda Art Festival 2016 
is in full swing
 and I am enjoying every bit of it.
 As promised in my last post
 I will be sharing some cool art with all of you.
 Stay tuned :)

















Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Adventure is out there!



Ok I am on an adventure again!
Kala Ghoda Association 
was formed on 30th October 1998
 with the object of maintaining 
and
 preserving the heritage and art district of Mumbai. 
Every year since then
 Kala Ghoda Art Festival
 is held which is a  week long 
mesmerizing
carnival of literature, theatre, 
dance, music, films and visual art! 
And so activities like rock concerts, 
literary workshops, culinary classes,
 heritage walks , street performances,
 huge visual art installations
 are the top favourite of one and all!
Funds raised from this iconic festival go towards the restoration and maintenance of the area. It is open to all and entry is free for all events.
So you can mingle around with artists, autors, performers and celebrities from Cinema and theatre.
And now the HAPPY NEWS...
I am all excited 
to be a part of this
 plethora of creativity and culture!
Yes I would be putting up an installation. 
The festival this year runs from 6th of February to 17th of February.
So stay tuned
for more on Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2016 
and also my work in progress pictures.

For now enjoy these photos from the past festivals..






























More on your way!!



Friday, January 15, 2016

I believe!

This is not going to be just another year
and I can sense that
The year started beautifully
 with a lot of family time
Then two of my childhood school friends visited me here...
loads of love
sparkling laughter
homemade food
old memories
...what else could I ever wish for!!
We met after thirty years can you believe it!!

Old friends are irreplaceable!!
I believe growing up apart
 and these many years 
do not matter if your hearts
 are tangled together!!

The best moments are when you tell each other..."REMEMBER WHEN..."




So friends
We begin our journey
afresh
and I believe
we will stay connected forever and ever!
As I thank God for the Abundance I am blessed with
I know much more is on my way!



Let us keep creating !