Year-End line up of the best cultural events in Ahmedabad

In this curated list find out about the best cultural events in Ahmedabad scheduled in the month of November and December, 2018. Check it out and make your schedules for the next 30 days.

While the citizens and businesses are still recovering from the Diwali hibernation, the creative heads of Ahmedabad have already set the dice rolling. The atmosphere is all set to welcome the winter jam-packed with amazing cultural do’s. Every faculty of arts, be it literature, visual art, design, dance and music – all has a strong footing in the city’s culture calendar over next month. And mind you, this is just the beginning, the season shall go on uptill end of march 2019. We shall be updating you on that, but meanwhile go through this fantastic list and make your schedule for the upcoming month i.e mid of November to mid of December 2018.

Women Seen and Remembered – Drawings of Women by KG Subramanyan – November 20, 2018

Neekoee Foundation, Ahmedabad and Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata brings a grand art show in Ahmedabad at the Hutheesing Centre. ‘Women Seen and Remembered’ is an exclusive exhibition of Padma Vibhushan artist Kalpathi Ganpathi Subramanyan alias KG Subramanyan‘s original drawings, sketches and paintings. Kicking off on November 20 the mega art show will continue until December 2nd while depicting a subtle artistic perspective on women. Alongside the show, connoisseurs will also have an opportunity to know more about Manida’s art through a talk by veteran artist Gulam Mohammed Sheikh.

Echoes of Innocence : A Solo Sculpture Show by Nayana Soparkar – November 23, 2018

After almost a decade, Indian Fine Arts and Craft Society awardee sculptor Nayana Soparkar is coming up with her solo exhibition in her hometown. The 100 clay sculptures are all made dexterously with a Japanese paper clay medium and are themed around happy memories of the artist. Breaking the shambles of perfect skin colour and ideal body typed, the dark-toned figures by Soparkar are an ode to childhood. Each sculpture is a beautiful depiction of childlike playfulness and nostalgia. Extremely happy and uplifting the show is Soparkar’s tribute to her grand children. The show is curated by Giriraj Kadia. The exhibition open on November 23, 2018 at 079 Stories. Soparkar has pledged the entire sum from the sales to Madhuram Charitable Trust, which works for betterment of children with special needs. An art installation on the same theme will  also be put up at the upcoming Art e’ Fair on December 1 & 2, 2018.

India Design Confluence

Think, explore, and collaborate with like-minded creative personalities as designers from all across the globe will gather to discuss creativity at the India Design Confluence. Starting from November 23 Textile Minister Smriti Irani will inaugurate the three-day multidisciplinary convention at the Unitedworld Institute of Design in Ahmedabad. Curated lectures, discussions, alliances and expert advice related to fashion, interior, graphic, automobile and jewellery design will be discussed as a part of this year’s itinerary; including a particular focus on the topic of ‘Balanced Ecosystem’. Register for the event here

Ahmedabad International Literature Festival 2018

In its third edition AILF has now found a place in city’s annual calendar of go-to events. Last year the lit fest was graced by senior recitalist and actor Anu Kapoor, while before that in 2016, writer-actor Piyush Mishra was present to address the audience, among many others. In the 2018 edition, author Anand Neelakantan has been invited to talk about his latest book Vanara and also actor Vivek Oberoi will join to discuss films with the attendees of Ahmedabad Literature Festival 2018. The two-day fiesta from November 24 to November 25 will host numerous discourses, workshops, felicitation ceremonies and symposiums on various literary rich topics at the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat.

Amdavad National Book Fair

Get ready to witness a landscape full of affordable books as the Amdavad National Book Fair in its 7th edition, scheduled on November 24th. The one week long fair will host literary events, discussions, competitions as well as felicitation ceremonies and will continue till November 30 at GMDC Ground. Enthusiastic reader community of Ahmedabad can expect English as well as vernacular language books in multiple genres at separate stalls. The literary event allows its audience to spend ample amount of time in selecting new as well as second-hand books. Organised by Amdavad Municipal Corporation, Amdavad National Book Fair is an initiative that aims to make Gujarat state a well-read society under the Vanche Gujarat programme.

Water Festival by Crraft of Art – November 25, 2018

Doyens of classical and contemporary music will perform at the 9th edition of Water Festival. This time, planned as a single day event on November 25 at the heritage site of Adalaj Ni Vav, this one-night musical saga will feature multiple genres of musical performances including jazz, rock, pop, bhajans and ghazals. Each year hundreds of admirers gather at an astonishingly lit heritage property to witness the magic of world music on World Heritage Week. And this year’s line-up is featuring Tabla player Ustad Fazal Qureshi, Mumbaikar rock band Indus Creed with composer Zubin Balaporia, guitarist Sanjay Divecha, sarangi maestro Ustad Dilshad Khan, bass instrumentalist Sheldon D’Silva, drummer Arun Kumar, ace Dholak player Navin Sharma, and Rajasthani folk Sufi musician Kutle Khan.

Raw Collaborative 2 – November 30, 2018

Experience home decor and furniture design like never before. The one of a kind ‘Raw Collaborative‘ exhibition at Le Corbusier’s ATMA House will host some of the country’s most creative furniture and home decor designs. Starting from November 30 the 2nd edition of this furniture fiesta ‘Raw 2’ will feature products from 60 designers who hail from various corners of India. Innovative concepts, rich aesthetics, and diverse design expressions are what the audience can expect from Raw Collaborative. The exposition goes on until December 2.

Art é Fair – December 1, 2018

In Art-e-Fair‘s 4th edition, the only art-trade fair of Ahmedabad will have a fantastic mix of contemporary art represented by nation’s best known art galleries and artists of national and international repute. Some of the participants are Vadehra Art Gallery and Nature Morte from New Delhi while Kolkata based Art Tune is coming for second consecutive time. Ahmedabad based Samara Art Gallery and Catharsis Art Gallery will be showcasing along with many other. Visitors can expect a fresh collective of artworks, jewelry designs, and lifestyle products on display at Rajpath Club for two days, starting from December 1. Art aficionados and enthusiasts can experience aesthetics of established as well as emerging artists of India at the Frida Kahlo themed art competition, and visitors can expect multiple discourses on arts by stalwarts of the industry at this year’s fête.

The Indian Portrait – IX – From the Collection of Anil Relia – December 4, 2018

From the wondrous art collection of art entrepreneur Anil Relia comes another series of exquisite and rare portraits collected from around India. The portrait series has been a regular show by Relia, wherein he showcased portraits on Nathdwara Pichwai, Mughal Empire, Royal Rajasthan Courts, Raja Ravi Varma and Contemporaries, and various other art themes the 9th exhibition of Indian portraits opening at Amdavad Ni Gufa on December 4 will feature Parsi portraits. The collection will showcase portraits of Parsi community, that are ranging from as early as 16th century to mid 20th century.

Gujarat Literature Festival 2018 – December 14, 2018

Team GLF has already declared the clarion of Gujarat’s most coveted literature festival through organising a discourse by Dr Shashi Tharoor on his latest book ‘Why I am a Hindu’. The substantial three-day fiesta will formally initiate from December 14 at Gujarat University campus with a lot of literature rich workshops, symposiums, panel discussions and activities. The final schedule is yet to be declared, but while conversing with GLF team member Jumana Shah, it seems that GLF has a lot to give in it’s 6th edition. As always, GLF will look to create a dialogue on issues that matter, and they hinted on specific sessions on the latest decriminalisation of consensual same sex relationships. That apart, music rich evenings are to look forward to. A book release of illustrated Mahatma Gandhi, by author Janhavi Prasad is also amongst the lined-up activities.

Most of the shows mentioned in the article are open to all and will remain open even if you want to visit after your 10 to 7 chore. The article is just a short slideshow of some of the most significant happenings in the city. Please log in to Creative Yatra to know about more about creative and cultural do’s of the city. We shall be following up with stories from each of this event.

So mark your calendars and make your plans right away, see you at the events!