Post News Network
BHUBANESWAR: The third edition of Odisha Biennale, an amalgamation of international and national art and cultural events and global convocation of performing/visual artists from all genres, will enthral the city’s elite from October 28 at Mindtree Kalinga Campus in the city. The theme of the nineday event, to be hosted by Mudra Foundation in association with Tokyo-Odisha Cultural Exchange, is “Body + Cloth”. The objective is to explore artistic opportunities to contemplate on the meaning of clothing the physical body in the society and to identity its need since the beginning of the society, its metamorphosis and transformation in the community. Around 40 eminent artistes from over 10 countries including traditional Japanese dancer Fujima Rankoh, Pantomime artiste Rui Rui, Indian dancer and choreographer Mandeep Raikhy, VEDANZA a dance troupe from Luxembourg, Moya Michael from South Africa and Gombe cultural troupe from Uganda will be part of the mega event.
A workshop on Dhokra and Golden Grass art has been slated for the event in which Oriya craftsmen and artisans from Cuttack, Kandhamal and Jajpur will participate. Taga, Japanese Consul General based at Kolkata, Mindtree co-founder Subroto Bagchi and Susmita Baghi will inaugaurate the Odisha Biennale 2017. The event looks forward to serving as a link to promote cultural diversity through innovation, creativity and expression. Acclaimed Odissi dancer Masako Ono will perform at the inaugural meet. “I may still be a ‘Japanese Odissi dancer. That’s fine. I only aspired to see the day when my name is associated with the dance form,” says Masako.
The festival of art and culture will showcase performances, hold workshops, symposia and organise heritage tours. Around Rs 75 lakh was spent on organising the event last year. Similar estimation is on the cards this year too. The funds are managed by Mudra Foundation with some aid from friends in Japan. “The objective of the event is to make Orissa a dynamic hub for art and culture which is unique in the world with the amalgamation of tribal, folk, classical and contemporary art forms. Artistes from across the world get to share a platform with local artistes and develop a rich bonding through art and culture,” claims Masako.
