This two-day Mumbai event is a unique artistic retelling of scientific research

A five-member team is bringing the results of its year-long research at a geological site in Bengaluru before the world in an artistic manner. PIC/SHABARI.SLOWWALKS ON INSTAGRAM

Imagine a five-member team patiently studying each facet of 2.5-billion-year old rocks, day in and day out for a year, familiarising themselves with their curves and edges, taking in the texture and feel. And then bringing the story of these rocks to the rest of the world in the form of art.

Open Invitation began as a research project a year ago, led by artist and educator Shabari Rao. The team included artist-filmmaker Manush John, singer-composer Bindumalini Narayanaswamy, multidisciplinary artist Navya Shah and collaborating geologist Thejaswi Shivanand.

"We spent a great deal of time at a geological site near Bengaluru," Rao tells mid-day, "where we found volcanic rocks that were almost 2.5 billion years old. That is more than half the age of our planet. Taken in this context, human beings are just a fleeting presence on the back of the Earth, and this is what we wanted to explore and capture."

The focus of the research was to uncover the dimensions of science, which include geological time and ancient landscapes that are beyond the experience of any human presence. Using this, Open Invitation aims to show how we have lost touch with nature, and let us see whether we can tread gently upon our planet.

"The nature of our work is focused on an immersive and meditative experience rather than an informative approach," says Rao. "It is shaped in a way that people can connect with themselves and get an understanding of nature and its struggles."

The two-day-long event brings all aspects of the year-long research in the form of an experimental film exploring the relationship of the human form with the landscape, a live performance that brings movement, sound and silence together, and a sound album that plays with space and presence. A three-hour workshop to explore the connection between space and the self follows after this.

"It is a conscious constellation of artwork," says Rao. "The art brings in the experiential element, science brings in the contextual element and the human presence brings in the philosophical element."

WHAT: Open Invitation
WHEN: February 23-24, 8 PM
WHERE: Harkat Studios, Versova
PRICE: Rs 250 onwards
TO BOOK: insider.in