WHAT’S ON MELBOURNE

Mithu Sen: mOTHERTONGUE

22 April -18 June New Delhi-based contemporary artist Mithu Sen plays with language in this exhibition, channelling it into forms as diverse as drawing, sculpture, media and performance to create complex artworks that unmake institutional power structures related to race, gender, ethnicity, caste, and location. Venue: Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 111 Sturt Street Southbank, Melbourne

Details: www.acca.melbourne

Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next. Stories of India Woven in Thread 13 May - 3 Sept In this exhibition, the name of which translates to ‘continuity of yarn’, see 75 hand-woven textiles created by contemporary Indian designers, showcasing the unique combination of traditional Indian textiles and contemporary techniques, as well as elements of India’s culture and history. A must-see experience for anyone with an appreciation of textiles, art, culture and history.

Venue: Museums Victoria, 11 Nicholson St., Carlton.

Details: museumsvictoria.com.au

Community

A Journey from Success to Significance

9-14 June Chinmaya Mission

Special Event

PM Modi in Sydney

Tues 23 May The Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation (IADF) will be hosting a community reception for the Prime Minister of India

Narendra Modi

Venue and time will be announced soon.

Details: IADF.org.au

Stage

Lakhwinder Wadali

Fri 12 May (8.00 pm) Punjabi musician

Lakhwinder brings to Sydney his fine blend of classical and contemporary style with alaps and taans.

Venue: Bowman Hall, 35 Campbell St., Blacktown.

Details: 0298396000

Anup Jalota

Sun 21 May (6:30 pm) One of India’s most popular musicians

Padma Shri Anup Jalota presents Jagjit Mehdi aur Main.

Venue: Grand Royale Function

Centre, 51-61 South St., Granville, NSW 2142

Details: 0417 244 724

Rajesh Krishnan

Sat 13 May (5:00 pm) Rajesh

Krishnan and group take to the stage in a Kannada School fundraiser.

Venue: Don Moore Community

Centre, Cnr North Rocks Road and Farnell Av, Carlingford

Australia presents a life-changing course, conceived and conducted by Swami Swaroopananda

Venue: Country Place, Kalorama

Details: 0432 623 038

Stage

Indian Classical Music Concert

Sat 13 May (2:00pm – 4:00 pm)

Vinod Prasanna (Bansuri) and Pranav Ramji (Tabla) come together for a fundraiser presented by Initiatives of Change Australia, supporting rural Indian villages.

Venue: Armagh Centre, 226 Kooyong Rd, Koorak.

Details: 03 9822 1218

Satyagraha in Concert

Sat 13 May (6:30 pm-9:30 pm)

Sydney

Opera Australia presents Philip Glass’ Satyagraha in Concert. Performed in its original Sanskrit, this is an operatic depiction of MK Gandhi’s early years in South Africa. Starring in lead role is Indian tenor Shanul Sharma.

Venue: Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St. Kilda Road, Southbank

Details: www.artscentremelbourne. com.au

Stand Up Comedy

Sat 13 May (7:00 pm) Comics Iftikhar

Thakur, Shakeel Siddiqui, Naseem Vicky and Qaiser Piya come together for The Laughter Night.

Venue: Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Convention

Centre Place, South Wharf.

Details: 0409 601 822

Lakhwinder Wadali

Sun 14 May (4:00 pm) Punjabi musician Lakhwinder brings to Melbourne his fine blend of classical and contemporary style with alaps and taans.

Venue: Springvale Town Hall, 397-405 Springvale Rd, Springvale

Details: 03 9013 7213

Jazzy B

Sun 21 May (6:00 pm) Check out Jazzy B in his Born Ready Australia tour

Venue: Quin Auditorium, Darnley St., Braybrook.

Details: 0452 337 387

Anup Jalota

Sat 20 May (7.00pm onwards) One of India’s most popular musicians Padma Shri Anup Jalota presents Jagjit Mehdi aur Main.

Venue: Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle St., Abbotsford

Details: 0452 337 387

Jubin Nautiyal

Sat 10 June (7.30pm onwards)

Your chance to see Indian singer Jubin Nautiyal of Raataan Lambiyaan fame

Venue: 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf.

Details: 0433 291 975

Details: www.sydneycomedyfest. com.au

The Laughter Night

Sun 21 May (6:00 pm) Comics

Iftikhar Thakur, Shakeel Siddiqui, Naseem Vicky and Qaiser Piya come together for a a night of laughs.

Venue: Diamond Showroom, Blacktown Workers Club, 55 Campbell St., Blacktown

Details: 0452 337 387

SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

Sydney Comedy Festival

South Asian guests

22-28 May Among a long list of leading contemporary writers this year, South Asian invitees include 2022 Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka (The Seven Lives of Maali Almeida), Osman Faruqi, Raina MacIntyre, Asma Khan (Ammu), Rosheen Kaul (Chinese-ish).

Details: https://www.swf.org.au

COMMUNITY

Jazzy B Sat 13 May (7:00 pm) Check out Jazzy B in his Born Ready Australia tour

Venue: Hillsong Convention Centre, 1-5 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills

Details: 0452 337 387

Stand Up Comedy

Sydney Comedy Festival

10 - 12 May Suraj Kolarkar presents Nosy Parker Kolarker, Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville.

Thur 18 May Gunnet Kaur presents Manic Pixie Dream Goblin, Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd,

Newtown

Fri 19 May Rowan Thambar presents Nothing Deep, Just Good Times, Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown

Diabetes seminar

Tues 23 May (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm)

Sydney Low Carb Specialists invite you to attend a FREE information session, Is diabetes reversal and remission possible? Hear from their experienced team of Dr. Deepa Mahananda and Dr. Amala Jayasuriya

Venue: Sydney Low Carb Specialists, 62B Windsor Road, Castle Hill

Details: 02 8214 2578

This month, Melbourne Museum welcomes Indian exhibition Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next.

It features 75 specially commissioned pieces of textile art, in a nod to India’s 75th anniversary of Independence, each showcasing the unique combination of traditional Indian textiles and contemporary techniques.

The term ‘sutr santati’ translates to ‘the continuity of yarn’, and as such, the exhibition tells stories of India woven in thread.

It brings together the creations of a diverse list of artisans, craftspeople and designers from across India.

India has been known for its textiles for centuries. In Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next., you’ll see local varieties of indigenous yarn - cotton from across the land (eg Kala from Gujarat, or Kandu from Karnataka), muga and eri silk from the northeast, and yarn made with camel, goat and yak hair –all coloured with eco-friendly dyes.

These are used in a myriad of ways in the pieces showcased – through embroidery, resist-dyeing, printing, painting, appliqué and more.

Coming through loud and clear in these traditions and techniques, is the deep and profound reverence that Indians have for the handwoven textile. It has been at the centre of so much of our history, first attracting the British to our shores, and later, playing a significant part in our selfdetermination at Independence. The textile will continue to tell India’s story well into the future.

In this sense, the exhibition is aptly named by Lavina Baldota who conceived and curated it.

Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria, agrees. “We are excited to host this exquisite exhibition, which showcases the country’s contemporary artistic and creative landscape and reinforces the value of traditional Indian textiles,” she said.

Equally, recognising the increasing cultural connections of communities between Australia and India, Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next. builds on the ongoing creative dialogue between our two countries, fostering deeper links between our peoples.

Lavina Baldota of the Karnatakabased Abheraj Baldota Foundation, said, “I am very excited for the people of Melbourne to discover India’s diverse textile heritage through the exhibition Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next. The exhibition combines exceptional works from contemporary designers alongside works from master weavers and intersectional creatives who put their hearts into their craft.”

Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next. is a must-see experience for anyone with an appreciation of textiles, art, culture and history – and even a passing interest in India.

Sutr Santati: Then. Now. Next. Stories of India woven in thread, Melbourne Museum, 13 May to 3 September 2023.