In December, India’s rich artistic and architectural heritage will take centre stage at the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. The inaugural India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale( IAADB) , scheduled for December 9-15, will showcase a diverse array of elements from India’s past. This extraordinary event will unfold within the historic confines of the Red Fort where seven meticulously curated thematic displays will be set up in the British-era barracks situated on the grounds of this magnificent Mughal-era monument. This information has been provided by official sources to PTI.
The organisers are planning to make this event a regular occurrence and said that they would like to take it to different cities like Kolkata or Bengaluru next year. A senior official in the ministry also added that this event also emphasises the cultural space imagined for the five cities.
During each of the seven days of programming, there will be a keynote presentation by an internationally renowned artist, architect or designer and they will also release a graphic novel about architecture.
Here’s The List Of Themes For Each Day:
1.Doors of India
2.Gardens of India
3.Baolis of India
4.Temples of India
5.Architectural Wonders of Independent India
6.Indigenous Design
7.Women in Architecture and Design
On the first day on the theme of ‘Doors of India’, various unique doors and gates will be honoured that will take people to see the constructed history of India. Sessions will also be conducted about the theme such as ‘ A Tale of Two Cities: Arc de Triomphe and India gate’ which focuses on the similarities in the designs of these two sites of Paris and Delhi respectively.
On the second day , according to the theme ‘ Gardens of India’ , there will be a discussion about gardens at the beginning of the day. The various spaces occupied by gardens like art , belief, heritage, popular culture, mythology, well- being, ecology and human imagination will also be discussed.
On the third day , the theme of ‘Temples of India’ will shine a spotlight on the remarkable architectural marvels of ancient India. Subsequently, they will delve into the topic of preserved heritage from the post-Independence era to the present.These events will emphasise the importance of safeguarding age-old traditions and regional identities while also advocating for sustainable practices.
Moreover , the concluding day of the festivities will pay tribute to the significant role women have played in the fields of architecture and design, celebrating their remarkable contributions, creativity and brilliance.
Mugdha Sinha, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture,during her speech at the event held at the National Gallery of Modern Art where the official logo of the biennale was unveiled in the company of Union Minister of State for Culture Meenakashi Lekhi , expressed that the artist’s call for the biennale has garnered an overwhelmingly positive response.
As per the government’s statement, this event is intended to act as a warm-up for India’s involvement in the Venice Biennale which will take place in 2024. The Venice Biennale takes place in various locations, including the renowned Corderie at Italy’s historic Arsenale, among others.
