Following the tremendous response at the on-going Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018, the show of Michelle Poonawalla’s multimedia installation Introspection has been extended till 12 February 2019 at the Cochin Club, Fort Kochi.

The project builds on Poonawalla’s growing interest in larger scale interactive installations and the use of new digital technologies, particularly mapped projections and motion sensor technology, in her artistic practice. The project, which is a part of the Biennale’s collateral programme, has found resonance with a diverse audience, with the immersive experience leaving visitors moved by its aesthetic and emotional force.

Introspection was born from a contemplation on the barrage of images of violence and displacement on endlessly repeated news cycles. The installation takes the audience through a sensory journey that starts with sound, using fragments of audio clips from the news combined with ambient sounds. The sound compositions transition into an immersive 360-degree projection of torrential blood-rain - a symbolic representation of the violence and trauma described in the audio clips. As the viewer walks through the projection space, strategically placed motion sensors trigger a dramatic cacophony of butterflies, signifying the final liberation of the soul, that wash over the surface of the screen, creating a visceral, cathartic experience for the viewer. Through her project, Poonawalla intends to take the audience on a journey that creates a moment of pause and a space for contemplation.

I’m delighted to be able to share this project at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which I believe is one of the vital pillars of contemporary Indian art today. The experimental atmosphere of the Kochi Biennale has been the perfect setting to share the sound and video mapping technologies I’ve been working on. It’s been an incredible experience to see people engaging and responding to the immersive world of this installation.

(Michelle Poonawalla)