Juxtaposing contemporary art within historic spaces, the third edition of Panorama Editions, 'Silent/Sound SAFARI,' curated by artist and filmmaker Sarah Singh at the Mool Sagar Palace in Jaisalmer used sound as its primary medium. This unique exhibition transported visitors through a diverse audio landscape, featuring field recordings from Mexico, a rhythmic German film, distant sounds from an imaginary Swedish land, and the profound silence evoked by climate change in India.
The one-month long immersive experience began as one wandered through the corridors of the 800-year-old Jaisalmer Fort Museum, the only living fort globally, serenaded by sounds that vividly transported them to Mexico. In one captivating moment, opening an ancient door led to a room filled with storage vessels crafted from camel skin, where a film accompanied by playful music engaged the senses, contrasting solemnity with vibrancy.
The event was an intimate gathering hosted by Maharawal Chaitanya Raj Singh and Queen Mother Raseshwari Rajya Laxmi. Drawing inspiration from a 1992 sound experience in the Jaisalmer desert, artist Sarah Singh brought the concept of Silent/Sound SAFARI to life. A live art installation and a theatrical work within the ancient stepwell of the palace conveyed intricate relationships using sound and silence, offering a captivating experience under the starry desert sky.
The subsequent day marked a historic moment as the 12th-century Fort Palace Museum hosted a contemporary art exhibition alongside its permanent collection. With support from nearly 20 embassies and arts organizations, Singh curated diverse artworks, emphasizing the salon's central theme of sound as art and experience. The event's highlight was an international public concert featuring Monika Lakatos and her band, along with the India premiere of Den Sorte Skole from Denmark, creating an audio-visual masterpiece against the backdrop of the Jaisalmer Fort.
In the spirit of the French Salons, which were the breeding grounds for artistic expression and interpretation, the Panorama Editions curated by Sarah Singh emerge as their own surreal realms of immersive experiences. Her belief in the complex possibilities of aesthetic languages and her goal to challenge and provoke through her practice resonate with the Panorama Editions, creating singular works that exist across time. Much like the French Salons, these curated events stand as the highest manifestation of eternal questions, bringing forth inexplicable beauty and offering attendees a profound and immersive artistic experience.
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