Focus India

On the paths of illumination: September 24, 2017–January 21, 2018 
Elective Affinities. Cinema and the Other Arts: November 9 
Shantala Shivalingappa: November 11, 8:30pm 
Nishat Khan: November 18, 5pm 
Aakash Odedra: December 16, 8:30pm 

The LAC presents Focus India, a project of extended scope in which the arts centre turns its attention to India and the profound influence that country has on exerted on Western art and culture. A wide ranging and never before seen programme embracing such diverse forms as the visual arts, music, dance, cinema and the many facets of Indian culture, including medicine, meditation and cuisine until January 21, 2018. Focus India will tells the story of a culture, Indian culture which has so fascinated and influenced the Western world in the most divergent areas through numerous events. Throughout the entire autumn a large exhibition featuring glances at the past and some of the leading protagonists of India’s art scene will be held at LAC and alternate with other activities and events including workshops, labs for children, conferences on medicine, yoga sessions, musical concerts, a series of films and a great deal more on Indian traditions. 

Focus India: Art
Among the different thematic pillars sustaining the project Focus India, art is in the forefront with the exhibition Sulle vie dell’Illuminazione. The Myth of India in Western Culture 1808-2017 running until January 21st, 2018. The exhibition  provides a broad and varied perspective of how, from the early nineteenth century, India with its traditions, religions, landscapes, cultures and arts—has increasingly enthralled the Western world. This is the theme that the exhibition develops on through a plethora of materials and works, from the writings of Hermann Hesse, to the photography of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the avant-garde works of Le Corbusier to the contemporary art of Luigi Ontani, Maurizio Cattelan, down to the Beatles for music.

Focus India: Dance
Dance has always been one of the highest expressions of Indian culture. On November 11 the LAC will be venue to a performance by an artist of exceptional standing, Shantala Shivalingappa, among the foremost contemporary interpreters of Kuchipudi, one of the seven styles of classical Indian dance. This will be followed on December 16 by Rising, a performance choreographed by Russell Maliphant, Sidi Larbi Cherakoui and Akram Kahn and interpreted by Aakash Odedra, an award winning English dancer and choreographer of Indian origin. 

Focus India: Music
A variety of different approaches characterizes Focus India musical events: an offering of music and performance aimed at discovering how India has influenced Western music, beginning with classical music all the way to contemporary pop. There will also be a foray into the world of electronic music and Bollywood in a special event trasforming the Hall into a London “Bollywood Club.” A key moment in the series devoted to the great Indian musical tradition will be the concert on November 18 by Nishat Khan, world famous sitar master. 

Focus India: Cinema
Elective Affinities. Cinema and the Other Arts is the title of a cinematic programme curated by critic, producer and director Marco Müller which will explore the numerous and changeable aspects of the Indian subcontinent seen through the seventh art. 20 programmes running from November 9 to December 17 with various screenings every day, guests and round tables will help explore a continent of shifting meanings still unknown in Europe: the relationship between modernist cinema, the visionary cinema of contemporary India and the expressive languages of the tradition. 

Rendez-vous
Alongside the highlights of art, music, dance and cinema, Focus India will also be featuring a series of events open to everyone and which are intended to guide the public to discover the various fascinating aspects of Indian culture. Activities will come in different themes and formats: conferences, ateliers for young people, free concerts, master classes in dance and music with the artists present, readings and workshops varying in topic and type, from the arts of “Indian narrative dance,” to meditation with different Yoga sessions.