Latest news with #AllianceFrançaiseofMadras
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
This theatre festival celebrates Tamil theatre personality A Mangai and her works in feminism
A Mangai says she only has 15 minutes for a conversation. The prominent Tamil theatre personality who has written, directed and starred in several plays; authored a book; and been an activist for years now, says that she is pressed for time because she is busy writing the closing speech for Kulavai 2025, a two-day theatre festival on June 8 and 9 in association with Marappachi, her theatre group , and the Alliance Française of Madras. At the event, one will watch excerpts of productions she has created, besides two full-length plays. They will speak of Sri Lanka, Palestine, feminism, queerness, survival, liberation and the consistent, palpable poignancy through it all. Some plays that will be staged include Avvai, Stree Parvam and Pani Thee. Over her career spanning 40 years, Mangai has chosen to speak of violence in the realm of caste, class, sexuality and gender. Having collaborated with a remarkable number of people across social structures, the theatre personality jumps from incidents, her origin stories, personalities she has encountered, and progressive philosophies, over call. 'My eyes are tearing up every time I think of the journey. It is the small things,' she says with a light shake in her voice, as she speaks of this speech that needs writing. Rapidly though, she gains composure and tells us about why her long-term collaborators pitched this retrospective to celebrate her work. Most people who are associated with Mangai, including the likes of her lighting artiste M Surendar, have worked with her for a minimum of 15 years. To him, celebrating Mangai seems obvious. 'Nobody has brought in as many women artistes on stage or subverted the Mahabharata or other religious texts with a feminist lens like she has in Tamil. She has shared these interesting stories with audiences,' he says. Mangai instead, believes that those who have worked with her have found tremendous space for collaboration with other artistes like Therukoothu dancers, academics, film personalities and artists. That is why this retrospective has been created. 'I do not see it as a nostalgic gloating celebration. Well, yes, it's a celebration, but it's also a reflection of where that generation wants to be today. I'm just a figurehead,' she says. Mangai entered the world of theatre back in the 1980s through the Chennai Kalai Kuzhu. She aligned with the progressive left and subsequently, the women's movement. Over the years, she has travelled to several districts in Tamil Nadu, taking feminism to the masses through performance art. 'I knew that there was one enemy and I had to fight. But then I think I woke up quite early. By 1992, Voicing Silence (another troupe) was formed,' she says. Here, they fought for 50% representation of women 'at least on stage,' she adds. The journey has hence veered towards ensuring that vulnerable groups find comfortable spaces on stage. Many of the theatre artistes performing on Saturday and Sunday are from the queer community. Learning from the community and consistently creating spaces for the trans community to occupy within the gender spectrum, has been an active effort. 'I use the word radical vulnerabilities by Richa Nagar a lot. You know, how when people get together despite all the burdens and pass on empathy or solidarity despite the vulnerabilities,' she says. The stage, she hopes, venerates the same and finds space to accommodate those from the margins. 'There is a deep sense of sadness in just surviving. Through art, we have found ways to talk about it and heal from within. Perhaps, even make it palatable. But now, I do not care about being palatable. I just want to raise as many uncomfortable questions as possible. Nothing else,' she says. 'Oh, we've spoken for 22 minutes,' she says, hanging up. Kulavai is on June 8 and 9 at Alliance Française of Madras, Nungambakkam between 10am and 6.30pm. On June 8, an open-mic event is scheduled. Entry is free.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ocean conservation takes centre stage at Alliance Française of Madras
A few weeks ago, Chennai saw the season's hatch of Olive Ridley baby turtles. The hatchlings slowly made their way into the sea, as people gathered to watch them. These turtle walks are recorded along the East Coast each year. Under natural conditions, the eggs laid by the mother in nests on the beach would hatch on their own, and the little turtles would crawl to the sea without interference. But with growing threats from predators, fishing activity, and habitat loss, the Forest Department now collects and protects the eggs, releasing them into the ocean in a staggered fashion, once they are born. Despite these measures, more than 1,100 turtles were found dead along the shore this year. The effects of climate change and environmental apathy are becoming evident. To mark the urgency of ocean conservation, the Alliance Française of Madras is hosting an exhibition titled We Are The Ocean until May 25. It brings together artists, researchers, and the public, through a range of visual and immersive experiences. The show explores the changing relationship between humans and the sea, using art and technology to spark dialogue and reflection. 'In June, we will have the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France. The idea is to raise awareness about the ocean and work towards sustainability,' says Alliance Francaise Madras Director, Patricia Thery-Hart. Spread across multiple spaces, the exhibition features a diverse mix of mediums. These include immersive installations, textile-based storytelling, augmented reality, VR experiences, and sound art. In the passageway leading into the main exhibition, two photo-based exhibits frame the human and ecological dimensions of ocean life. Faces of the Ocean, presented by the French Development Agency, features portraits of individuals across India's fisheries sector — from boat mechanics to fish vendors — offering a glimpse into communities that depend on the sea. On the opposite wall, is Antoine Bertin's Phytoplanktonic Conversations which presents a series of images developed from a sound project. It documents a phytoplankton bloom in the South Atlantic, drawing attention to these vital, oxygen-producing organisms that often go unnoticed. One of the highlights include an installation made with textile waste. Aazhi – The Deep Sea traces the life and loss of coral reefs. The installation depicts stages of deterioration of coral reefs due to change in ocean temperature. The phenomenon, known as coral bleaching, strips the colours off the reefs, leaving them white. 'This depicts a healthy ocean, and then slowly, you can see how it changes colour. All of this is made from tailoring waste. We cut them into strips, spin the yarn and then knit, weave, crochet and use other techniques to make this,' says Kalyani Pramod, a multidisciplinary artist, textile designer, and director of Common threads, a Chennai-based fibre art studio. Other installations pick up similar threads of ecological storytelling. Tidal Echoes by Milkorva uses abstract visuals and field recordings to evoke the changing rhythms of the ocean, while Villes Flottantes, an augmented reality work, explores coral reproduction, mangrove restoration, and plastic reuse. Viewers can download an app to scan the artwork in specific sections, which activates animations and additional layers of information — turning the viewing experience into an interactive one. Other zones include a VR experience simulating deep-sea ecosystems; and a reading corner for children, set up in collaboration with Karadi Tales, offers younger visitors a quieter way to engage with the ocean. We Are The Ocean is on view at Alliance Française of Madras until May 25.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Camp chronicles in Chennai
Besides spending time with their favourite cartoons, games, books, or even physical activities, it is time for children to learn a new language, experience a unique culture, and develop skills. Here are four institutes that are conducting interesting summer camps for children to grow. French Connection At the Alliance Française of Madras this summer, the ocean comes ashore. Beginning May 10, a tide of ideas flows through the gallery spaces with We Are The Ocean, a multi-sensory festival that urges viewers to look deep — into coral reefs, mangroves, and the lives connected to the sea. From immersive VR dives and haunting field recordings to fibre artworks stitched with the sorrow of bleached reefs, this exhibition is no passive viewing. You listen, touch, dive in. Artist Kalyani Pramod's Aazhi – The Deep Sea feels like both memory and warning. Elsewhere, AR frescoes and photographs trace not only waves but the fragile livelihoods built upon them. Film screenings and panel discussions round out this call to action, ahead of the UN Ocean Conference co-hosted by France in June. 'Our new exhibition We Are The Ocean demands to be experienced, not just told,' says Dr Patricia Théry Hart, Directrice of Alliance Française of Madras. 'So we created an immersive ocean space with French and Indian artists to raise awareness on the interconnectedness between human activity and the ocean. It is important for us to propose impactful exhibitions as they are aligned with two of our core values: (1) We respect our environment, because protecting our planet is key to all our futures and (2) We work closely with other organisations that share our values.' For language courses and camps, contact Sneha: 6383798352.
