In the ‘Eyemyth’ of a storm

Challenging the notion of admiring art from a distance is the Eyemyth Media Festival, which in its fourth edition is exploring various experimental concepts of art in audiovisual platforms and media. The ongoing three day festival, which is being held at multiple venues across the city is dedicated to experimental content, exhibits and installations and has collaborated with the Japan Media Arts Festival to bring the current edition centred on the theme ‘Medium as a somatic impulse’.

Telling us about the idea behind Eyemyth festival, Neha Singh, co-founder of Unbox, which organises the festival, says, “The idea is to make art not only immersive but also accessible at the same time. Unlike the mainstream and in the West, here in India, we have a chance to explore art independently and give it new dimensions.” With work from both home-grown and international filmmakers, musicians and multimedia artists, the festival also aims to showcase the diversity of content in new media.

The festival, which was held for the first time in 2013, has grown exponentially in the last four years and this year will present more than 12 exhibits and installations that will explore new ways of interacting with art. “This year we have collaborated with the JMAF, and have brought in a number of international exhibits. Apart from that we have also collaborated with the British Council through which we are presenting screenings of various animation shorts,” adds Neha.

Elaborating more on this year’s theme, Neha explains, “To put it in the simplest terms, it is about exploring the physicality of the medium. For example the exhibits make use of elements like sound or stimuli to present art.” Telling us about what this year’s edition of the festival presents, she says, “This year we have about roughly 12 exhibits and installations and more than half of that is by Indian artists. There are a number of interesting installations such as the Daxophone, which makes use of a very unique instrument to create art. Also part of the festival is an exhibit called Neural Portraits which makes direct use of neural impulses to present art. One of the interesting Indian exhibits is the Bhai O Scope, which is essentially a bioscope which presents content on Indian informal medicine.”

Talking about the reception that the festival has received, Neha says, “Ever since we threw open the festival the people coming in have been saying that the art put up here has been extremely immersive. The response has been great and the crowd that’s been coming in has been quite mixed. The festival is essentially for everyone, we have not designed it with any target audience in mind. Apart from the exhibits there are screenings that are put up every five minutes on various topics. It is a great place for kids and adults alike. Basically there is something for everyone.”