A quick search on Google, with the keywords “water” and “Bengaluru”, is very disheartening. Headlines scream about water shortages in the foreground of politics and experts predict a near dystopian future for the city. As the temperatures soar ominously high this April, the Lifetide Water Festival aims to create a dialogue about this precious resource.
“Lifetide Water Festival’s first chapter, called Upstream Through Art, (happening this weekend) is a meeting point of different perspectives on the theme,” explains artist and festival creative director, Vivek Chockalingam, adding, “We will have debates on the issue of water, and artists and activists will showcase their work and thoughts on this pertinent subject.” There are other chapters, soon to come.
There is an interactive installation by Premjit Ramachandran titled, Aatmasphere which explores the element through visuals and sound. “There is a gulf that divides humankind and nature. Through art, I hope to bridge this gap,” says Ragini Bhow, another artist at the festival, who has created a graphic novel about water, titled Lifetide - the Story of Water Being. Other artists involved are Bhavani GS, Pratik I R and Ramesh Singh Dhami. The festival also has a session titled Lakes of Bangalore — An interdisciplinary approach towards lake protection, which will be a discussion among citizens who want to voice their opinion.
Against the tide
Lifetide, started in late 2016, is a platform to forge new coalitions to create water abundance through films, publications and events. The festival hopes to create a lasting impact and wants to get more artists to think about water and citizens to get more hands-on with the issue. They are being supported by various city-based groups such as Namma Bengaluru Foundation, Friends of Lakes, Bangalore Film Society, and Satvik Vegan Society. “I believe Lifetide is a movement, not just a platform — a commu-nity’s movement for water sustainability, justice and harmony,” sums up Simar Kohli, the founder and creative director.
Entry free. Saturday. At Shoonya, Lalbagh Road, 11 am. Details: lifetide.in