Fringe Festival: Groundbreaking 'Book to Exhibition' showcases pain and triumph of immigrant's journey in Australia
Announcement posted by Invigorate PR 02 Oct 2024
Two World's Collide Exhibition:
- Dates: 3rd - 13th October 2024
- Venue: SOL GALLERY, 420 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065
- Part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival
The Melbourne Fringe Festival 2024 is home to the world's first interactive and immersive Book to Exhibition 'Two World's Collide' based on the immigration journey of Nandita Chakraborty.
The Melbourne Fringe Festival is a world leading event in the globe's cultural calendar that celebrates all things independent art featuring more than 450 events presented by Melbourne's emerging and established independent artists.
Chakraborty is an Indian born Australian who arrived in Australia to pursue a new life of opportunity only to find the cultural shock overwhelming. In addition, Nandita experienced a near death fall of 40 metres while hiking which left her with permanent cognitive impairment. Her recovery therapy involved writing.
Now a highly respected and accomplished Neuro Divergent screenwriter and author Chakraborty wrote several novellas as part of her therapy including Rosemary's Retribution, Meera Rising and her award winning memoir Dirty Little Secrets. They feature strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy. She mostly writes about love, identity, sexuality, disability and the cross-cultural conflict of being an immigrant.
Her extraordinary journey and memoir Dirty Little Secrets which captures her difficult life experiences as an immigrant including the challenges of living with a non-visible brain injury and becoming a victim of a heartbreaking online Indian love scam have now been translated into a captivating exhibition which will be showcased at SOL GALLERY during the Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The highly anticipated exhibition takes viewers on a groundbreaking journey through the senses with the world's first book to gallery experience, inspired by Chakraborty's memoir. The immersive exhibition delves deep into the emotional and sensory landscapes of migration, masterfully bridging the two worlds of its author, Nandita Chakraborty; the one she was born into and the one she now calls home. It also reflects her pain and triumph, the unrelenting determination to find joy and build a life of love, purpose and happiness.
"I am incredibly proud and extremely honoured to share my story with everyone in such an immersive and interactive way," Chakraborty said.
"People will be able to explore and share my journey through touch, feel and sound, gaining a profound perspective on the intricate tapestry of migration."
The exhibition has been described as a sensory odyssey that invites visitors to connect intimately with the author's experiences, touching on the essence of what she has carried into her new life.
Chakraborty has brought together a highly talented group of collaborating artists to bring the exhibition to life including: Akhshay Gandhi, an internationally acclaimed artist, Rohit Bhasi, a renowned creator of the book cover, Laura Bailey, an esteemed local artist, Shipra Anand, celebrated for her intricate alpona (rangoli) patterns; and Samantha Lord, a First Nation artist known for her meticulous dot paintings.
A highlight of the exhibition is a striking one-meter image titled 'Two Worlds Collide', which poignantly captures the essence of the migrant experience. This image will be intricately cut out and displayed alongside Kavad Katha, symbolising the blending of the artist's journey past and present worlds. In addition, the exhibition will also feature other extraordinary displays of artistry by the collaborating artists for everyone to experience.
The Consulate General of India, Melbourne and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre are delighted to be collaborating with Nandita Chakraborty on the exhibition 'Two Worlds Collide'.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to share our rich Indian cultural heritage as well as the strong cultural bridges between India and Australia. We wish her all the best for the Melbourne Fringe Festival," Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Director, Niyati Mehta said.