Diminishing boundaries

"It's about telling and sharing stories. It's about the things which we're interested in, things which are valuable to us. It's about the things which create our cities and even us. 'Mix the City' is a part of the bigger event which was started by Prime Minister Modi when he first met former British Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015. It's about connecting the youth of the two countries; it's about diminishing the borders. It's about transporting the local music from streets of Delhi to the playlists of people worldwide," said Alan Gammell, Director of British Council India.

'Mix the City' is an interactive digital artwork which allows people to create their own music, play different music together to create a new masterpiece and delve deeper into their very own city and explore it in a new manner altogether. 'Mix the city Delhi' was officially launched on April 6, 2017 in British Council High Commission in the presence of Baroness Usha Parashar and Alan Gemmell. The event brings together 12 Delhi musicians to showcase the diversity of sound, music, people and cultural influences of the Capital.

The performances in the British commission by Vidya Shah and Aditya Ballani were awe inspiring. Shah's combination of Thumri, Dadra, and Ghazals – three different forms of Hindustani classical music with the projection of Old Delhi, metro stations, the great Hanuman statue in Karol Bagh on the front walls made the audience look at Delhi in a different fashion.

Gemmell says that it's surprising how music changes our perspective about things. He adds, "It's our responsibility to connect with the younger generation in innovative ways. I wanted to work in digital culture to share who we're and to understand who other people are. It will allow creating empathy for and amongst people, and breaking myths; permitting introspection and retrospection."

Baroness Usha Parashar, in her address to the audience mentioned sharing of culture as the most beautiful way for strengthening bonds, and announced exciting year-long initiatives to mark the UK-India year of culture 2017.

For the celebration of the event, British Council Delhi building façade showcases a unique projection in reference to India's rich cultural heritage designed by studio Carrom.