The cultural landscape of Ahmedabad was enriched as the UNM Foundation, under the Torrent Group, inaugurated the seventh edition of its flagship Abhivyakti - The City Arts Project. The grand opening took place on Thursday, November 14, marking the start of a 15-day artistic extravaganza.
A Nationwide Celebration of Art
This year's festival is notably larger and more expansive, showcasing the talents of more than 140 artists from 45 cities across 16 Indian states. A significant majority of these participants hail from outside Gujarat, including artists from Assam, Rajasthan, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. This diverse representation underscores the event's growth into a nationally significant platform for original, contemporary artistic expression.
Stories Waiting to Be Told: The 2024 Edition
Under the evocative theme "Stories waiting to be told," the festival promises an immersive experience. Audiences can look forward to over 220 shows spanning dance, music, theatre, literature, and visual arts. The visual arts segment has seen a particular expansion, now featuring 62 installations, a direct response to the overwhelming public interest in previous editions.
The festival's artistic direction is in the capable hands of five eminent curators: Gopal Agarwal (Dance), Tapas Relia (Music), Gurleen Judge (Theatre), Jay Thakkar (Visual Arts), and Preeti Das (Literature). They are supported by a team of mentors including Kruti Mahesh, Rajat Dholakia, Saumya Joshi, Khanjan Dalal, and Rajesh 'Miskeen' Vyas.
Expanding Reach and Legacy
The opening night set a powerful precedent with the theatrical dance-musical Mumbai Star, produced by Devika Shahani, directed by Nadir Khan, and narrated by Rajit Kapur and Srishti Shrivastava. The performance attracted a strong and diverse audience, setting the tone for the days to come.
Sapna Mehta, Chairperson of the UNM Foundation, expressed her pride in the platform's national appeal. "Abhivyakti enables access to the arts without thresholds," she stated. "We take pride in presenting 140 artists from across India, each reflecting the immense creative potential that resides in every corner of the country."
Since its inception in 2018, Abhivyakti has built an impressive legacy, having supported over 600 artists and premiered 400 original productions. The festival has drawn cumulative attendance of more than 600,000 people across its six previous editions. Its success in Ahmedabad has inspired local editions in other Gujarati cities like Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Bhuj, consistently providing a free platform for budding artists and making art accessible to the masses.
The festival is being held across three iconic venues in the city: the Gujarat University Campus, ATIRA, and the Shreyas Foundation Campus.
