LIVING WITH NATURE
An Interactive exhibition…
Open Space – CCDS’s, ‘Last Jungle on Earth’ club which started with a series of storytelling sessions aimed at rediscovering folk tales, myths and legends from traditional communities in India in an effort to reveal the common narrative and thematic web connecting people and cultures; brings together an interactive exhibition of art and artifacts from traditional communities in India.
The exhibition titled, ‘LIVING WITH NATURE’ is curated by poet and writer Randhir Khare.
Exhibition note:
Since prehistoric times nature has played a significant role in the social, cultural, religious, economic, emotional and spiritual lives of human beings. To those of us who live in urban areas today, this role appears to have diminished and we have begun to see our natural environment as a resource to be used for our survival rather than as a nurturing network of energies of which we are a part.
However, there are still many of us who live in remote rural environments where the physical presence of nature is still prominent and the relationship shared with the elements very much alive. This relationship, as in early times, is expressed through virtually all aspects of the living experience. The natural environment is considered not as a physical resource to be used and depleted but as a powerful renewable life-giving source.
This exhibition presents the art and artifacts of people from traditional communities (many termed as Scheduled Tribes) - reflecting their symbiotic relationship with nature.
On display is a selection of art and artifacts from various communities in India:
- From the desert frontiers of Kutch comes pottery produced from the clay of the Great Raan, hand painted with patterns derived from the gando baval shrub and the flight of the desert grouse;
- from the remote northeastern region of the country there’s the Mangkotepsu – an Ao-Naga warrior shawl decorated with many sacred creatures including the hornbill and the mithun, a buffalo-like creature;
- from the rugged lands of south western Madhya Pradesh comes a pithora painting that celebrates the relationship with humankind and nature;
- from the Dangs jungles of south Gujarat come visual representations (on paper) of memorial stones replete with clan symbols and mystic animal forms;
- from the Saheriyas who live along the virtually inhospitable Chambal ravines – is the hand-painted shamanic rain sickle ornate with reptile and plant images;
- from the clay of the Banas river that runs along the Ranthambhore wild life sanctuary are a collection of forest animals…
- and more – a painted ceremonial dowry bow and arrows, a forest illumination in leather from the shadow puppet tradition, a maithili painting and others…
all reflecting the ancient bonds shared between human beings and nature.
As this is an evolving exhibition, it is envisaged that the number of art and artifact displays will keep increasing and the narrative flow will further develop. In keeping with the theme, it is to be seen as a process of discovery and learning.
In order to make this process an engaging and creative one stress is being placed on interactive elements to bring alive the under-layers of significance and relevance.
The first showing will be at the premises of the Rewachand Bhojwani Academy. The staff and students in the school have taken on the exercise of building activities and narratives around the works of art and artifacts in order to enhance the experience for the visitor. These activities will include story-telling, worksheets and extended responsive visuals/songs/reflections.
It is the intention that with each future showing, the host institute or organization develops their own responsive activities around the exhibits in order to make the experience engaging and creative. The final objective is to evolve a dynamic interactive mobile exhibition that carries with it additional information and activities gleaned from the innumerable showings.
LIVING WITH NATURE is curated by Randhir Khare who has worked in diverse areas of development with socially, culturally and economically disadvantaged communities and groups all over the Indian subcontinent.
He is the recipient of The Rehabilitation Award, Pegasus - the Union of Bulgarian Writers’ Gold Medal for Poetry and the Sanskriti Award for Creative Writing in India among other awards.
Day & Date: Monday – Thursday, September 17 – 20, 2007
Time: For Schools (Teachers and students): 10.00am – 2.00pm
For the general public: 2.00pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Rewachand Bhojwani Academy, 5 Staveley Road, Camp, Pune - 411001, Tel No. 020 26360368/26360069
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE OR ENTRY FEE. ENTRY IS FREE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED-BASIS-ONLY.
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Friday, September 21, 2007, 3.00pm – 7.00pm, at Open Space
Do you have questions about HIV? Do you need an informed opinion on how to avoid transmission of HIV, or what tests and treatments are available and where they are available? What are the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and how can the law be used to address discrimination against the HIV-positive? Do you want to know how to address the subject of HIV with your children/students?
A young team of human rights lawyers and counselors from Sahyog Trust, Pune, will address your queries on April 14th and April 28th from 3pm to 7pm at Open Space.
The Sahyog Trust strives to break the culture of silence surrounding HIV, works to protect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, and provides legal intervention for those whose rights have been violated.
The team comprises:
Advocate Asim Sarode, whose innovative work with HIV/AIDS and the law won him recognition from BBC as a ‘Yuva Star’. He is also a member of the Community Advisory Board of the National AIDS Research Institute.
Advocate Rama Sarode, who has been a trainer with organisations working with HIV, and has been working with legal issues related to women’s rights and the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS
Rasika Kulkarni: Former HIV/AIDS counselor with Sassoon Hospital, Pune, and the PMC’s Pune City AIDS Control Society.
Please walk in with your queries. Confidentiality of personal information is assured. Questions will also be taken on the telephone during these hours. Call 020-25457371.
Day & Date: Friday, September 21, 2007
Time: 3.00pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Open Space, B 301, Kanchanjunga Bldg, Kanchan Lane, Off Law College Road, Near Krishna Dining Hall. Pune 411 004, Tel No: 020 25457371
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