Interactive art

Organised by Think Arts, the 26-day event will take children on a sensorial journey through an interactive art and theatre exhibition.

NM Director-General Sanjiv Mittal said, “The exhibition aims to supply back the luxury that Indians a generation ago enjoyed in their younger days. We have scheduled it with the summer vacations for schools upcountry.”

Ruchira Das, <g data-gr-id="37">founder</g> of Think Arts, says, “Elements would enable the participant children to a world of wonder — in all of its senses.”

 “We had the outdoors to play in. We touch, smell, feel, hear, use all of our senses as we explore. These experiences fuel our imagination and heightened our sense of perception,” she added.

“At Elements, every action of the child changes the experience for those who follow, creating an ever-evolving space”, reveals Das, who has conceptualised the show.

The show will have a room of cupboards and drawers featuring a drawer of tastes, smell, sounds, miniatures among others. “The only way to get to the next room (labyrinth) is by entering a cupboard. The labyrinth has a jigsaw puzzle inspired by a miniature from the gallery at the National <g data-gr-id="38">Museum,”added</g> Das.

There is also an art room that invites children to engage in building a sculpture using cardboard boxes, scraps of cloth, paper and found objects. With every interaction, the sculpture takes a new form.

Another feature is the textured path, along which the children walk on sand, pebbles, foam and sawdust among others. There is also a music room which has easy-to-play instruments that will help the child explore the sounds of different musical sounds made from elements like seeds, metal, wood and bamboo. Many of these instruments are inspired from those in the music gallery at the National Museum.

“The team behind Elements comprises several <g data-gr-id="44">artistes</g> and organisations who basically believe that children are “thinking, feeling beings who are capable of as much, if not more depth, and understanding as an adult”, says <g data-gr-id="42">Anurupa</g> Roy, from <g data-gr-id="43">Katkatha</g> Puppet Arts Trust. She along with Shravan Heggudu and S <g data-gr-id="45">Raghuvendra</g>, are the designers of the exhibition and co-creators of the artworks.

The team also includes professional musician Rajat Mallick and Prarthana Hazra, a recent post-graduate from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan.