Homegrown's guide offers a curated look at some of the most exciting performances, workshops, screenings, and exhibitions the festival has to offer. The Serendipity Arts Festival
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Exhibitions, Performances, & More: A Homegrown Guide To The Serendipity Arts Festival 2024

Anahita Ahluwalia

The Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa is back. Curated by leading artists, the festival spans multiple disciplines, from the visual and performing arts to culinary innovations and discussions. Its ninth edition in 2024 continues its mission to inspire change through the arts, with a program addressing pressing issues such as sustainability, inclusivity, and the intersection of tradition and technology.

Homegrown's guide offers a curated look at some of the most exciting performances, workshops, screenings, and exhibitions the festival has to offer. Whether you’re drawn to narratives of women’s labor songs, the interplay of sound and color in synesthetic art, or the culinary potential of seaweed, there’s something here to captivate every spirit.

Performances

  1. BE-LOVED: Theatre, Music, Queerness and Ishq!
    Through theatre, music, poetry, and dance, this play explores the spectrum of queer love. By merging historical writings with modern interpretations, it highlights the timeless and universal nature of love while focusing on the struggles and triumphs of queer identities across India.

  2. Songs of the Millstone
    This project revisits traditional women’s work songs, framing them as echoes of both resilience and drudgery. Through dance and music, the performance interrogates how gendered labor shapes identity and collective memory, making visible the often-overlooked narratives of women’s lives.

  3. Littoral States of Being
    A surreal convergence of natural elements and abstract choreography, this performance invites you to navigate a maze of bamboo poles and otherworldly creatures. It serves as a metaphor for humanity’s enduring connection to nature, blending the tangible and the ethereal.

Workshops

  1. Silent Rhythms
    This workshop showcases the artistic depth of Deaf culture, presenting sign language poetry and visual storytelling as powerful modes of expression. By emphasizing the universality of creative communication, it challenges preconceived notions of accessibility and artistry.

  2. Evolving Trends in Feni
    Feni, Goa’s iconic liquor, is a symbol of cultural heritage and innovation. By celebrating and showcasing traditional and barrel-aged varieties, it positions Feni not just as a local favorite but as a potential global premium product, embodying the evolution of tradition.

  3. Blind Date with Friends
    Bridging social and cultural divides, this initiative pairs you with visually impaired individuals for a shared artistic experience. Through conversation and connection, it fosters empathy and highlights the richness of diverse perspectives.

Talks

  1. The Greenwashing Narrative
    This panel dissects the illusions of sustainability in fashion, urging you to confront the disinformation surrounding eco-friendly claims. It calls for a collective commitment to genuine environmental and social responsibility.

  2. Resurgence of Memory: Oceanic Archives and the Portuguese Connection
    By examining the cultural legacies of Portuguese colonies, we understand how history continues to shape contemporary identities. In our postcolonial world, it’s never been more important to revisit and preserve transoceanic connections.

  3. In the Realm of the Sonic Senses
    This talk delves into the multisensory nature of art, exploring how synesthetic experiences can challenge and expand traditional boundaries of perception. It celebrates the fluidity of sensory interpretation in artistic expression.

Culinary Projects

  1. Imagining Insects
    This experiment challenges cultural biases by introducing insects as a sustainable food source. By exploring the intersection of taste and perception, it questions the boundaries of culinary acceptance and sustainability.

  2. Climate Controlled Dosa Picnic Basket
    This whimsical food ritual turns the humble dosa into a centerpiece of innovation and celebration. By overcoming logistical challenges, it emphasizes the creativity inherent in everyday culinary traditions.

  3. Eating Seaweed Workshop
    Step into the untapped potential of Goan seaweed by combining traditional techniques with a hyper-local ingredient. Culinary innovation can transform regional biodiversity into sustainable food practices.

Film Screenings

  1. Chapters Inbetween: Women's Stories Unfold
    This collection of six short films captures the unsaid realities of women workers and entrepreneurs in Goa. By blending straightforward accounts with poetic imagery, it illuminates their struggles, dreams, and silent resilience.

  2. If I Could Tell You
    Explore the power of visual language through the friendship of a deaf and a hearing individual. It questions how autonomy, agency, and care are communicated beyond spoken words — human connection is richer than we think.

  3. Shelf Life
    By drawing parallels between the aging of cheese and human life, this quirky film explores decay and preservation. It’s a whimsical ode to the art of craftsmanship and the beauty of impermanence.

Exhibitions

  1. Art x Machine
    This exhibition showcases India’s innovative AI artists at the intersection of technology and creativity. By transforming machine learning into a tool for expression, it redefines the boundaries of traditional art forms.

  2. Memory of Birds
    A sound installation inspired by migrating birds and contested histories, this work addresses political violence and collective trauma. It’s a meditation on memory, erasure, and the ephemeral nature of life.

  3. The Game of Whispers
    By juxtaposing Mughal-era intrigue with modern disinformation, this interactive video game explores how technology shapes narratives and power dynamics. It’s a commentary on truth and manipulation in the digital age.

Follow Serendipity Arts Festival here.

When: Dec 15 to 22, 2024

Where: Panjim, Goa

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