07102024-LSTL-01.qxd 10/6/2024 8:39 PM Page 1 c m y b GLIMPSES OF SINGHAM AGAIN Ahead of the release of the trailer of the film Singham Again, filmmaker Rohit Shetty has caused excitement among fans by sharing intriguing visuals from his movie franchise. Taking toInstagram, he shared a promo video, in which the fans get a glimpse of Ajay Devgn in his iconic character. TRIBUNE Ramp age Life Shraddha Kapoor on Saturday walked the ramp for Hyderabadbased couture brand Mishru at the Embassy of Belgium in New Delhi. LUDHIANA | MONDAY | 7 OCTOBER 2024 PHOTOS: VICKY Foundation Chandigarh’s first event at Open Hand Monument celebrated the iconic site with talks by celebrated guests, a photo exhibition, some music and more musings Mona T Shruti Kapila, Christopher Turner and Noor Dasmesh Singh HE Capitol Complex, the pictures of which have been part of many photography exhibitions, became the venue for one such exhibition on Saturday. A welcome change as it gave the city folks a chance to witness the iconic site in its full splendour. To activate and celebrate the public spaces of City Beautiful, Foundation Chandigarh in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and the Global Humanities Initiative, organised an exhibition of photographs by architect and urbanist Noor Dasmesh Singh at the Tower of Shadow of the Complex. The exhibition, which was the first chapter of Foundation Chandigarh, saw the participations of distinguished guests from India and abroad. Pit of Contemplation at the Open Hand Monument became a place of convergence not just for the city’s elite but also students, academia and architecture enthusiasts as Manish Tewari, MP Chandigarh UT and international arbitrator, along with Christopher Turner — head, Architecture and Design, Victoria and Albert Museum, London — took the podium. Manish Tewari mentioned that it was his first visit to the Open Hand Monument though he was born and brought up in the city. Tewari made a strong a point when he said that a city should not become a museum but it should celebrate diversity and also preserve its heritage. “As citizens, we must apply ourselves to find a midway where we keep grow- Of Open Hand and open minds ing as a city, celebrate our diversity, preserve heritage but also take care of our needs and aspirations.” He added that events like this would make the city’s landmarks more accessible to the masses. Christopher Turner, in his brief talk, made a point about how the European architects got name and fame for designing the city but Indians who actually built it were sidelined. Speaking after the event, Turner, who has visited Chandigarh a number of times, shared, “We need another museum to celebrate architects and engineers who did the actual work.” Turner added, “I think Corbusier got all the credit while he flew to Chandigarh only twice a year. His cousin Pierre Jeannette was his man on ground. I met architects who actually worked, like SD Sharma and Jeet Malhotra. They are full of energy. Malhotra at 90 talked about his plans of founding a university. If that’s not dynamism, I don’t know what is.” Turner, who saw the Capitol Complex at night for the first time, like many of us, talked about the model of Governor’s Palace, which was never built in Chandigarh, on display at Victoria and Albert Museum. Turner hopes to have a Chandigarh Manhole Cover for his collection. “At least, I got a model of it,” he said as a replica of it was presented to him by the Foundation. The exhibition by Noor Dasmesh Singh that showcased about 20 photographs and installation enthralled the guests. Imposing structures, water bodies, coloured pillars of the High Court, human figures standing in front of those tall pillars capturing the contrast (and the Capitol Complex) — the exhibits led to animated talks among those present as they tried to place the real structures in those frames. Dreamy rays from the setting sun on the horizon, mellifluous notes coming from artiste Sukhwant’s violin, and colourful frames set against naked concrete made the entire atmosphere surreal. The event also saw a panel discussion called Making of Chandigarh at Le Corbusier Centre that had Shruti Kapila, professor, University of Cambridge, Sangeeta Bagga, principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Yojana Rawat, professor, Centre for Distance and Online Education, Punjab University, Chandigarh and Christopher Turner. Prof Kapila, who is also part of the Global Humanities Initiative, spoke about the need to learn from the past. Noor Dashmesh Singh talked about his Foundation’s mission, “Architecture and fragments of urban quarters become only meaningful once they are inhabited and celebrated by the citizens on a daily basis, not when they are distant and out of reach. We must reclaim our public spaces. These glorious urban spaces need to be activated and animated on a regular basis to become part of an active city life. People should be able to wander around — walk, jog and idle around soaking the spirit of modernist legacy. Let art, culture, architecture may enrich and shape our lives meaningfully.” Chandigarh-based designer Samarjeet is preserving traditional embroideries and integrating them into the modern fashion narrative Gurnaaz In an era where the essence of traditional craftsmanship often gets lost amidst mass production and commercial interests, Samarjeet, a textiles and embroideries revivalist and designer, is charting a course to breathe new life into the world of artisanal embroidery and art in general with her initiative called Plumtin Trust for Folk Art Revival. From hand-embroidered lehengas to a broader cultural revival, Samar is committed to preserving and celebrating the rich tapestry of Indian art forms. When Samarjeet and her team embarked on their journey with their Trust in Chandigarh, their primary mission was clear — to resurrect traditional embroidery techniques and present them in a way that resonates with modern sensibilities. As she explains, “We wanted to take the old embroideries and bring them into something that appeals to the younger generation, like brides, so they feel it fits their personality.” Today, the industry is increasingly dominated by industrial and machine-produced embellishments. Samar reveals, “Most designers aren’t doing hand embroidery anymore. They either do Banarasi or get industrial machine panels done from China, adding embellishments by hand. This isn’t really giving work to artisans.” One of the challenges Samarjeet faces is the proliferation of brands that falsely claim to The connecting thread offer hand-embroidered pieces. She describes how some designers manipulate perceptions. “Some brands that say they are still doing hand embroidery are cheating. They get their stuff pre-made and then add final touches.” Samarjeet’s commitment to transparency means clearly distinguishing between purely hand-embroidered and mixed pieces. Other than directly employing 150 artisans and adhering to labour laws that include providing benefits to workers, Plumtin as a Trust is further bridging the gap in understanding and appreciation of true craftsmanship by launching a significant campaign centered around the theme — “Love is a journey, Love is a commitment, and Love is a celebration.” This initiative includes reviving forgotten folk traditions and incorporating them into their work. Samarjeet explains, “The campaign features a rich blend of old and new art forms. It includes folk music, poetry and even miniature art paintings, all presented in a movie format.” Samar is particularly excited about integrating diverse art forms into a unified narrative. “For our next project, we aim to bring together around 10 different art forms on one platform to create a larger story,” she reveals. Samarjeet points out the importance of having artisans to sustain the revival efforts. “You can only revive art if there’s somebody to restore it,” she says. This is why the project is committed to supporting and showcasing various styles of embroidery, from Parsi to Lucknowi, with a particular focus on preserving Zardozi craftsmanship.” TEAM SPIRIT Samarjeet’s vision is not just c m y b about preserving traditional crafts but also about integrating them into the modern narrative. “What Samarjeet is creating here is a blend of old-world traditions and new-world sensibilities, empowering us by merging the two,” says Amy, who is involved in the campaign. ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS & INNOVATIONS The project has garnered support from various artists. Choreographer Puneet Jwandah, who has designed the first event along with Amy and others, expresses her gratitude, noting, “The best work comes from an environment of freedom and support. I am incredibly grateful and fortunate to have collaborated with a team that deeply believes in the transformative power of the arts.” Lighting director Gyan Dev also shares his experience, saying, “The amalgamation of theatrical lighting with the beautiful couture designed by Plumtin created interesting dynamics.” His background in theatre lighting brought a new dimension to the project, enhancing the visual storytelling. “The synergy was surprising to me as I saw the end result.” Models showcase Samarjee’s creations