There are nuances to Art Deco structures that only an artist will see—the floral patterns on grills, the rays of the sun that stand out in typography, the sweeping waves on a wall fence
Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum
Curated by Jane Borges, Nasrin Modak and Gautam Mengle
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How do the royals of Jaipur celebrate Teej, commemorating Goddess Parvati accepting Lord Shiva as her consort? A unique online collaboration between the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum and the Arts of Hindostan, an Instagram page dedicated to decorative arts, architecture, design and fashion inspired by Mughals, Rajputs and Company Sahibs, has been taking us through the regality and pomp of the celebration observed in the month of Shravan. From the traditional kurti and safa (turban) showcasing the wave-like tie-dyed lehariya pattern that the women and men of the region wear during Teej, to the palki (palanquin) that carries Teej Mata with its elegant canopy to protect the deity from the rain and the rituals involved, the Instagram posts give us a window into the age-old traditions followed by the royal family, and why they continue to hold such an important significance for them.
@msmsmuseum; @artsofhindostan, Instagram
Deco dekko
There are nuances to Art Deco structures that only an artist will see—the floral patterns on grills, the rays of the sun that stand out in typography, the sweeping waves on a wall fence. Artist Gitanjali, who otherwise uses her Instagram handle to showcase her hand-painted furniture, has of late been sharing her recreations of Art Deco designs across the city. The balcony grills on Madina Manzil, Lalbaug and Sunshine at the Oval, the concrete grills of Vilhervin in Bandra and Fatima Building on Dockyard Road; and staircase grill of a building on Mohammed Ali Road are among the many structures whose bold lines, geometry and intricate patterns inspired by nature have been revitalised in the drawings by Gitanjali. If art is in the details, this is the page where you will learn why.
@somethingblueart, Instagram
A survival guide for creators
If you’re looking for a masterclass on life, your search ends with Adi Pocha’s newest podcast. The multi-hyphenate Pocha, who is best remembered for his show Shanti (1994), which he wrote and directed, has turned host with Fellowship of Lost Creative Soul. Meant to be a survival guide for creative people, Pocha’s show has him interview a wide pool of artistes—actors, music directors, ad filmmakers and even sculptors—where they talk about their journey, challenges and creative process. Shabana Azmi discusses growing up in a commune, and her stint with theatre at the age of three, courtesy her mum Shaukat Kaifi; VJ-singer-actress Suchitra Pillai shares why she still hustles, and how her self-worth is not determined by fame. In a nutshell, these are the life stories of famous people, who fought through their insecurities, their failures and struggles to become who they are. What’s not to learn?
Spotify
Mixed signals
Listening to music may have moved from cumbersome cassette players to compact CD players to the smartphone, but a device with an old-world feel has its own charm. Which is why this writer was quite excited when a relative sent Noizzzybox Retro XXL radio as a gift. The Retro XXL is a large, box shaped device, reminiscent of the radios of yore, complete with a collapsible antenna. You can also plug in your phone via a USB cable or Bluetooth, and operate it using remote control to have a soundtrack to cleaning, cooking or working out. The sound quality is loud and clear, with an old-fashioned round dial for volume—turn left for low, right for high. The remote lets you choose or skip songs, or hit pause quite smoothly. An old-fashioned round dial also let’s you adjust the frequency of FM and AM radio channels to tune in to your favourite radio stations, as well as two short-wave radio channels. We were able to tune in to at least two stations after turning the dial one inch at a time, but the reception was not at its best. We’d say invest in it only if there’s good reception at your residence or workplace.
Amazon
Alice’s new wonderland…
The first thing that comes to mind when we see the book’s title, Alice’s Underwater Adventure, is that it is a children’s book. The last thing to cross our minds is that it would highlight how airplanes are bad for the planet and that global warming is no joke. A few pages into it, we realise that the central character, Alice, is with us on the topic of imagination of corals and underwater life, comparing it to the forest of the sea. What she sees instead are corals bleached grey and white. Her idea of picture-perfect postcard beauty instantly turns into an underwater junkyard filled with plastic. A mermaid who saves her from the fisherman’s net coaxes her to save the underwater environment. It also has beautiful rhymes, catchy illustrations and funky character names like Dally Llama, Dandylion and Stutterfly. The book is the work of a Grade XII student, Yuvraj Shah, an undergraduate student at Pennsylvania, USA, who has also assisted with reef regeneration efforts in the Andamans, and has created a short video to showcase the positive impact on regeneration efforts to prevent ecological disasters. It is a fun personalised adventure story with an actionable message for all kids.
www.manimaltales.com
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