This series of events at CSMVS provides a contemporary take on ancient exhibits

How does ancient art translate to the modern world There is always a thin line between the snobbishness of pretending to understand art and culture and allowing it to enter your personal experience ldquoIt is important to inculcate an interest and draw people into the world of history through a new perspectiverdquo shares Joyoti Roy lead curator Ancient World Project at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Tomorrow the museum will kickstart a rare arts programme where artistes from different disciplines will unite to create a holistic experience of the Ancient Sculptures exhibitThe Roman sculpture of Dionysos or Bacchus on loan from the British Museum at the exhibition Pics CourtesyCSMVSGetting interactiveTitled Ancient Replay Museum x Artists x Sculptures the programme entails immersive experiences play object theatre workshop dance performance to enable participants to engage with the exhibits in a more contemporaneous way Roy explains ldquoEach of these experiences is designed to find a new artistic expression of the ancient culture and to explore their impact on visitors especially young adultsrdquo she notesThe series is curated in collaboration with theatre practitioner Sameera Iyengar and her Freestyle initiative ldquoWhen you look at artiste responses they will be leaping off the exhibition and bringing their own interpretations You want that playfulness in order to draw in the younger audiences and remind them of the museum being a cool spacerdquo Iyengar saysA view of the sculpture of Varaha centre on loan from the District Museum VidishaModern world musingsApollo Dionysos and Bast might not be familiar names to the Mumbaikar but the effect of these sculptures is unmistakable To bridge this gap between the ancient and modern the museum has embraced the opportunity to explore the digital medium as well Roy points to the presence of transdisciplinary writer and mediamaker oysh whose digital walkthrough Bodies as open source Freedom will be an immersive experience for visitorsThe sessions will start off tomorrow with an initiative on social media by the platform Agents of Ishq titled Ishq at the Museum Paromita Vohra its founder and creative director says ldquoHistory is not something far away and unconnected We are hoping to look at it its stories and the past through a contemporary gaze For instance we will start with a curation of the lsquoGreek Godrsquo physique and its transformation to the modern Indian male standardsrdquoA miniature of Dionysos by Choiti Ghosh right Ghosh with a Lion HeadMultiple narrativesObject theatre practitioner Choiti Ghosh notes ldquoFor me the idea was to engage with these sculptures and objects that are often larger than life It helps to diversify the narrative and bring in your own personal experiences memories and associations to these storiesrdquo These stories adds theatre maker Sapan Saran are a key part of the experience Her play titled Venus Beauty Parlour and Apollo Gym is a multidisciplinary performance that explores ldquofemininity masculinity and lived realities that exist in the liminal space between these constructs surrounded by myths archetypes and stereotypesrdquo She adds ldquoThe audience will be taken on a guided tour inside the museum and the performances are being framed around the sculptures of Venus and Apollo The performers are a mixed group of actors singers a body builder a kathak dancer and a drag kingrdquoJoyoti Roy and Sapan SaranRoy shares that the programme will be a denouement to the exhibit that concludes on October 1 ldquoAs a museum we hope to create more such initiatives that bring in diverse perspectives and experiences for a more tactile experiencerdquo she concludesFROM Tomorrow to September 29 1015 am to 6 pmAT Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya MG Road FortENTRY As per museum ticket prices Take your pickDiya Naidugtgt Ishq at the Museum by Agents of Ishq Digital curationON Tomorrow 10 amLOG ON TO csmvsmumbaigtgt This is not only an ancient sculpture by Choiti Ghosh WorkshopDATES August 17 and 18 August 21 and 22LOG ON TO csmvsin for registrationgtgt Bodies as open source Freedom by oysh Digital walkthroughDATES August 21TILL September 18LOG ON TO csmvsin csmvsmumbaigtgt Venus Beauty Parlour and Apollo Gym by Sapan SaranDATES September 27 and 29AT CSMVS main galleryLOG ON TO csmvsin for registrationgtgt Bone Breath and Ancient Flesh by Diya NaiduAT CSMVS main galleryLOG ON TO csmvsin for registrationAlso ReadExplore coins from the former princely state of Indore at this Mumbai exhibition