15 January,2017 01:12 PM IST | | Jane Borges
A first-of-its-kind competition in the city is encouraging artists and lensmen to come together to showcase India’s marine life
Pics/Sumer Verma
Did you know that around 13 million sharks are being killed in our oceans each year? Or, that the coral reefs are fast depleting because of the dumping of waste into the sea?" Kanchi Mehta, art curator and founder of Chameleon Art Projects, doles out these facts as she ventures into speaking about Blue India - a first-of-its-kind underwater multidisciplinary contest.
An initiative of NGO Reef Watch Marine Conservation, the competition aims to encourage photographers, filmmakers, painters, sculptors and graphic artists to share their work and ocean experiences from across the country. The competition has been split into three categories photo, film/video and fine art, and submissions will be open till March 1.
While the prizes are huge, including a GoPro, Mehta, who is a self-proclaimed ocean lover, says that the main purpose of the initiative is to gather database on the marine environment and oceans. "There is so much documentation on our terrestrial lands and forests. But, there is barely anything available on our rich marine life." The winning submissions, which will later be displayed at an exhibition, will hopefully encourage conversations about life under water, Mehta said. The money generated from the participation fees, she explained, will also be pumped into marine research. "It's just an honest attempt at building a community of ocean lovers in India."
To Participate: www.reefwatchindia.org/blueindia
Entry: Rs 500
Call: 34567777
