A combination of Artistic Excellence and Industrial Innovation
Nexion, a leading Italian-Indian manufacturer of high-quality sintered stone, signed a three-year partnership with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India, in 2023. This partnership was proposed by Mallika Sarabhai, a leading figure in the city of Ahmedabad. With a degree in economics from London, Mallika established herself as an internationally renowned activist, prestigious actress, and celebrated dancer of Indian classical dance.
Mallika, the daughter of Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, an eminent figure in the field of science and astronomy in India, and Mrinalini Sarabhai, a renowned Indian classical dancer and founder of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, headed the Darpana Academy, continuing to preserve and promote her family’s rich artistic heritage.
The Darpana Academy hosted the world premiere of Yadavan Chandran’s ‘Meanwhile, Elsewhere’.
Darpana’s Artistic Director, Yadavan Chandran, has been creating television work and live multimedia productions at Darpana since 2001. His training as a filmmaker brought a unique layered vision to his theatre work. His productions included the super hit Kadak Badshahi, the mesmerizing Conference of the Birds, and the gut-wrenching Colours of Her Heart. Meanwhile, Elsewhere was his newest work.
In a space suspended between memory and imagination, Meanwhile, Elsewhere unfolded as a tapestry of dreams, desires, and the fragile architecture of human connection. The performance is navigated by the evocative stories of Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, inspired by the labyrinth of Italo Calavino’s Invisible Cities – each one a reflection of human longing, ambition, and loss.
Through poetic monologues, striking projections, and dynamic choreography, the performance explored themes of collective aspiration, the elusiveness of desire, and the ways we shape, and are shaped by, the spaces we inhabit.
Mr. Mahesh Delvadia, Managing Director, Nexion, stated, “Nexion Surfaces is proud to partner with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, as this collaboration perfectly aligns with our mission to foster cultural exchange and celebrate creativity. Through this partnership, we aim to build lasting bridges between Italy and India, embracing the rich heritage of both nations while promoting innovative artistic expressions that transcend boundaries.”
The Darpana Academy hosted the world premiere of Edoardo Catemario’s opera ‘Of Heroes and Gods’.
Edoardo Catemario, a Neapolitan guitarist, composer, and singer, was a renowned classical artist with 15 DECCA Italia CDs. He has composed symphonies, lieder, choir, chamber, and guitar music, branching into pop and children’s music since 2020. Winner of the 2009 Gold Guitar, he had performed in prestigious venues worldwide and was an honorary associate professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
‘Of Heroes and Gods’ was a new opera inspired by the Mahābhārata, the oldest and largest epic ever written. The epic poem explored profound themes related to human existence, Karma, and Dharma. At the centre of the narrative emerged the figure of Draupadi, a symbol of integrity and resilience, who, despite immense suffering, retained her moral strength. The opera was performed during the 45th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival in Ahmedabad, known for its cutting-edge presentations in the field of music and dance.
This festival was the ideal context to introduce such an innovative production, which aimed to build a cultural bridge between Italy and India. The collaboration between Nexion and the Darpana Academy highlighted a shared commitment to promoting art and creativity, building a cultural bridge between Italy and India, and celebrating the rich heritage of both nations.