Indianama 2017: Celebrating The Creative Spirit Of India

“Last year when Independence Day was about a month away, a germ of an idea over coffee transformed into a discussion amongst the team about curating a contemporary experience around the history of India simply because of the lack of it, and Indianama was born.” – Kunel Gaur, Artist and Creative Head, Animal.

Indianama was started by the creative agency in 2016. They decided to bring together 69 artists to create 69 original pieces of artwork capturing significant events from every year of India, starting from 1947, to celebrate India’s 69 years of independence.

This year, for Independence Day, they asked 70 artists to come up with their own version of what India means to them.

This led to 70 unique creations celebrating 70 years of this vibrant, independent and diverse nation. The entire exhibit was on display in the capital in August, and is now part of the London Design Festival.

Here are our 7 favourite pieces from this year’s entries (press ‘play’ on each):

1) Let’s Dance by Debjyoti Saha

Representing the ‘eclecticism’ that is traditional Indian music, this artwork is a homage to rhythm cycles, and sheds light on an important aspect of the Indian culture, that of its unique sounds and dances.

2) Hit the Street by Roshni Desai

Kites, paper boats, marbles and pitthu all evoke memories of childhood days in India, so this work is bound to make one nostalgic. The piece also expresses how interwoven our diverse nation is, and the bonds we form because of our roots.

The artist, Roshni Desai, explains “We have so many street games in India and strangely through the nexus of this country, it has spread in many different parts with variations of the same game having different names. I wonder how it happened though, did the children of India have a secret network? But that’s the idea behind this piece. Each letter represents a name in a different regional language of that game.”

3) Beautiful Decay by Manav Khadkiwala

Lord Shiva, also known as the creator and destroyer, is the most powerful god in Indian mythology. In his piece, Manav describes Shiva as no ordinary god whose mysterious ways can never be interpreted by earthly norms and definitions, performing multiple roles and wielding a mighty power over the universe, shaping and destroying it at will. His animated piece symbolizes a neon future where a glowing Shivling is found by an explorer as the earth terraforms in the background.

4. The Scent of Soil by Purvika Sharma and Surabhi Chowdhury

Inspired by the mountains and its people, this piece by Purvika and Surabhi brings out the relationship between the two, highlighting how the latter does so by living by the rules of the terrain and not imposing their rules upon it.

  5Open 24 x 7 by Ritu Chauhan

'Open 24×7' by @rituchauhan for @india.nama 2017. . "India, the land of ancient wisdom and the birthplace of spirituality, is home to many communities driven by a purpose ; the purpose to spread the word of a life influenced by well being. These communities are not influenced by any tradition, and work to build a progressive future that is open to all men and women. This poster captures the meditational and spiritual places of India, like Auroville, Isha Foundation, Osho. These places are home to thousands of people who believe in restoring global community through inspiration and individual transformation. The outcome of my personal experience of these places and their ideologies is this poster. It illustrates the coming together of natural elements- the mighty sun, sea, mountains – with the delicate and symbolic blooming lotus. The vastness of these elements is imposing, but the harmony and peace in their coexistence is a direct representation of the mind when it works to achieve unity with the universe- it is still, but moving slightly with the gentle vibrations of calmness…" . Next month @india.nama moves to @richmixlondon in collaboration with @create.culture to be a part of London Design Festival (@l_d_f_official) from 6-24 September.

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Detailing the spiritual angle that forms the base of India, Ritu Chauhan illustrates the coming together of natural elements – the sun, sea and mountains – with the symbolic blooming lotus. She portrays India as the land of ancient wisdom and the birthplace of spirituality, home to many communities driven by the purpose to spread the word of a life influenced by well-being. This poster captures the spiritual places of India, that are home to thousands of people who believe in restoring global community through inspiration and individual transformation.

6. Artful Romance by Devarshi Gohil and Tridib Maitra

'Artful Romance' by @devartme & @tridibmaitra for @india.nama 2017. (Tap for sound) . "India is a land of paradox. A place where there are monuments built in the name of love yet there is no place for lovers.Throughout history lovers have met under the blanket of the moonlight away from the eyes of the society and restrictions. Be it Krishna running around in Madhuban with Radha or the meticulously planned mughal gardens where the emperors courted their lovers in complete privacy to today where young boys and girls hideaway in the corners of public parks and promenades to be with each other. We have long associated gardens as a place for love to blossom, a place where love can exist for a little while if not an eternity. The visual depicts two lovers amidst a garden just existing. As time moves on and the skies change, they remain undisturbed almost frozen in embrace." . Next month @india.nama moves to @richmixlondon in collaboration with @create.culture to be a part of London Design Festival (@l_d_f_official) from 6-24 September.

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This piece is a comment on the paradox that is ‘love’ and ‘romance’ in India. Devarshi Gohil and Tridib Maitra point out that monuments are built in the name of love here, and yet there is no place for lovers. “We have long associated gardens as a place for love to blossom, a place where love can exist for a little while if not an eternity. The visual depicts two lovers amidst a garden just existing. As time moves on and the skies change, they remain undisturbed almost frozen in embrace”, they say.

7. Land of a 1000 Toothy Smiles by Vibhav Singh

'Land of a Thousand Toothy Smiles' by @_vibhavsingh for @india.nama 2017. . "A smile is enough to brighten a dull day; a perfect beam, thirty two teeth glinting with pure glee. How often do you see that smile? . There are so many thoughts and emotions behind that one smile. It could be a smile of encouragement, a gentle push, an incentive to seize the day. Carpe Diem. . That smile could be a precursor to rumbling thunder clouds; a smile of anticipation. A smile in face of great adversity, a smile of defiance in face of opposition, overturning regressive ideas, a smile to tell bravely, "Not today." It could be a smile of a six out of the park, a goal, perfectly matched socks, a sip of ginger-tea in the morning, a chance encounter with Shah Rukh Khan, listening to Gulzar reciting poetry, a generous dollop of ghee over parathas, a bargain well made, a marathon completed, a book written, a song sung. . And it is all here, in India, a land full to the brim with such smiles, a land with cultures so diverse that coexistence is second nature to its people. Adjustment comes naturally, like breathing air. We haggle, we argue, we 'scooch over', and then we adjust with a smile. This artwork presents just that. The acceptance of our differences, yet blurring boundaries, sharing, smiling. Together."

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This artwork highlights the many colours and faces that is India, andd how there’s always a smile hidden in the chaos.  This smile is symbolic of our ‘adjusting’ nature. “We haggle, we argue, we ‘scooch over’, and then we adjust with a smile. This artwork presents just that. The acceptance of our differences, yet blurring boundaries, sharing, smiling. Together”, he says.

There’s a lot more to expect from the young project. Kunel tells us, “The project is in an experiment phase, where we test new sensibilities in design when it’s applied to different mediums that are directly connected to India as a whole. Going forward we would like to make that focus sharper. Customising our approach to suit the medium.”

Expect to see more mini projects around print, signage, typography and technology in future from Animal. Until then, we recommend you scroll through the many other Indianama 2017  pieces. There’s a lot to be discovered.

Written by: Additi Seth

Featured image source: Designfabric

 

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