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AI art meets speculative fiction through Tejas Nair’s fantastical series, India’s first Interstellar Cultural Festival. Imagine Mumbai to be a melting pot of culture but here’s the catch — you don’t get to experience only earthly cultures but cultures from around the cosmos. The famous Mumbai skyline is dotted with intergalactic portals to Planet Earth - the historical monuments have transformed into teleportation hubs.
A plethora of diverse species have traveled across their galaxies and the Milky Way to arrive at the City of Dreams and celebrate the universal language of culture, culinary, art, and the unfortunate and unavoidable traffic jams. Despite hyper-speed travel and inter-dimensional exchanges, Mumbai still maintains its old-world charm with pothole-infested flyovers and spaceports packed like sardines, proving once again that some traditions are timeless.
This year's festival will be held at the reinvented grounds of what was formerly known as Marine Drive. The location has now transformed into a floating platform for intergalactic yachts. The festival promises to offer a variety of events, ranging from zero-gravity dance performances to street food competitions featuring the most exciting iterations of cheese grilled vada pav, infused with celestial flavors. The chosen location for the festival has given residents of South Bombay yet another reason to feel high and mighty, while others have settled for an internal dialogue to reaffirm their belief that residing in this area of the city remains sensible.
All attendees should note that 'fashionably late' is still the buzzword for attending events now matter how far into the future we envision ourselves. In spite of advanced teleportation facilities, arriving on time is a concept alien to the aliens. This edition of the event is also proud to present the largest ever holographic IPL screening that is visible from all across the city. This ensures that even if the city's transport systems are stuck in a time warp, its capacity to deliver sports and entertainment remains unrivaled. So, embark on a visual journey and vicariously travel through time and space to join in for a weekend where the city finds itself at the ebullition of all things vibrant and new that the cosmos has to offer.
This work delves into a satirical exploration of India's urban futures, particularly through the lens of Mumbai — a city that juxtaposes chaotic charm with the notion of an urban utopia. I'm captivated by the peculiar humor that underpins the everyday occurrences within our cities. There lies a unique irony in observing India's wealthiest, most populous metropolis operate like a fragile toy model, perennially on the brink of dysfunction. Ultimately, this ongoing series serves as a creative conduit for my often confused affection for the city I call home, celebrating its imperfections and idiosyncrasies.
Tejas Nair, on his inspiration for the series
About the artist:
Tejas Nair, also known as Spryk, is a mainstay in the independent electronic music and digital arts scene in India, renowned for his captivating audio-visual performances and DJ sets. He is also the co-curator behind the EyeMyth Media Arts Festival and Skip-A-Beat, an innovative audio-visual record label that promotes emerging talent and organizes showcase events. He recently founded Vorlds, a tech platform dedicated to publishing immersive 3D experiences and games, pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment and digital storytelling.
Find out more about Tejas Nair here.
