IIC Art Fest 2023 to celebrate the lived traditions of South India

Team L&M

The week-long annual art fest of the India International Centre, New Delhi begins on October 27 this time. This is the 19^th edition of the festival titled The IIC Experience: A Festival of the Arts. The IIC Quarterly: Autumn 2023 will be released during the festival by Dr Karan Singh.
This year, the festival is showcasing the rich and vibrant living traditions of South India with a thematic focus titled Dakshinayan: Celebrating the Lived Traditions of South India. And in tune with the theme, arts, culture and food traditions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana will be presented during the week.

The South Indian diorama will range from the simple activities of everyday life in homes as well as the region’s vibrant rituals, age-old customs and traditions, art and sculpture, vernacular architecture typical to the region, ancient dance and theatre forms, classical music and the delectable cuisine.
The festival has been conceptualised to bring together a wide array of talents in the visual and performing arts, encapsulating six decades of the IIC as a space for diversity, freedom, innovation, creativity, learning and entertainment. The range of activities includes dance, music (Indian, Western classical and jazz), theatre, folk art, paintings, installations and photography exhibitions take place using both outdoor and indoor spaces of the Centre.
The festival will be inaugurated by IIC president Shyam Saran on Friday, 27 October at 6:30pm in the Fountain Lawns, followed by Thiranottam, Mohiniattam recital by Methil Devika and artists of her troupe from Palakkad, Kerala.

Performances
Lankha Dhahanam – Tholu bommalata, traditional puppet theatre presented by Sindhe Chithambara Rao and his troupe; a morning concert of Carnatic Vocal presented by the well-known artist from Chennai N Vijay Siva; Miguel de Cervantes’ epic novel Don Kihote visualised in Kathakali style by Margi Theatre from Thiruvananthapuram; Kshetra Prema: Stories from Temples of South India an evening with Vinay Varanasi and Vivek Sadasivam; and Daklakatha Devikavya an experimental play devised and directed by Lakshman KP with Jangama Collective, Bengaluru.
This year, the performances also include a special evening to celebrate the birth centenary of Pt Kumar Gandharva with Hindustani Vocal Recital by Shashwati Mandal; and A Dance Story of Taiwan presented by artists of Dance Forum Taipei, Taiwan.

Art exhibitions
Three diverse exhibitions will be presented during the festival – A People’s Library: Celebrating The Connemara Public Library focusing on the rich repository of archival photographs, digitised copies of illustrated and rare books housed in the Library’s collection.
The exhibition in the Art Gallery, Chettinad – An Enduring Legacy presents the crafts, textiles and traditions preferred and patronised by the Chettiar community of Tamil Nadu. Envisioned as a journey through the history and heritage of this unique community, the exhibition weaves its way through the symbolism of the clan temples to the majestic homes of the Chettiars. Curated by Visalakshi Ramaswamy.

The exhibition in the Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza Stories from the Earth: Terracotta Narratives presents an exhibition of terracotta sculptures from the Sanskriti Museum of Indian Terracotta.

Hollywood Bonanza

A Magical Mystery Tour: Festival of Films curated by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, award-winning filmmaker, archivist presents a special focus on the influential golden age of Hollywood cinema with a screening of 21 award-winning films featuring the leading sirens and heroes of this period.

Food Festival
The food festival, curated by food critic, columnist and writer Sourish Bhattacharyya, includes A Turkish Repast prepared by Chef Anuj Wadhawan; Bon Appetit by Chef Vijay Thukral; A South African Food Safari by Chef Nishant Choubey; Itadakimasu: A Japanese Dinner; From a Chettiar Spice Box: Chettinad dinner prepared by Chef Richa Johri; Russian Prazdnik presented by Chefs of the Embassy of Russia; and A Mexican Fiesta prepared by Chefs of the Embassy of Mexico. The food festival includes Sacred Offerings: Poetry in Food, a multi-sensory presentation on temple prasadams with songs, stories and cooking – a lecture demonstration by Chef Rakesh Raghunathan.

 The festival ends on November 2
Entry is open to all and free