SLUG: Art Without Barriers
Ahmedabad: Come Nov, Ahmedabad transforms into a stage for a three-week celebration of creativity, art, performers and visual storytellers from across India. At the heart of this is the Abhivyakti City Arts Project, the brainchild of Sapna Mehta, director of the U N Mehta (UNM) Foundation. Over the past six years, this vibrant extravaganza infused the city with artistic fervour, championing emerging artists and elevating the cultural landscape of the city.
What began at Sanskar Kendra and Tagore Hall in Paldi with a modest lineup of performances and installations blossomed into a landmark event. Today, Abhivyakti (which means expression) spans multiple venues, attracting audiences that now number in lakhs. The first five editions received over 3,500 applications, premiered 290 projects and featured more than 400 artists, with a cumulative footfall exceeding 3 lakh attendees.
When it all began, the vision was simple: to make art accessible, nurture talent, and rekindle Ahmedabad's historic love for the arts.
"Ahmedabad has always been a city of art and design sensibilities. It has institutions that celebrate culture, but somewhere along the way, the younger generation lost touch. Our mission was to change that, and it's heartening to see young people embracing even classical music performances today," Mehta shares with pride.
Abhivyakti's inclusive nature sets it apart. From stunning installations to soul-stirring music, theatre and dance, there's something for everyone — and there are no ticket barriers to dampen the experience. "It's where a student can stand next to a seasoned art connoisseur, equally mesmerised by the performance before them," Mehta adds.
This year's edition, which began on Nov 21, has already seen 1.89 lakh visitors, with the number expected to touch 3 lakh by the last day on Dec 8. Of the 96 artists performing in this edition, 50% come from outside Gujarat. Karthik, representing The Open House Chennai, performed shadow puppetry for the first time at Abhivyakti. "We learned about Abhivyakti from a fellow artist, and this platform gave us immense exposure. People did not know about shadow puppetry in Gujarat, and seeing our native art form appreciated so widely is heartwarming."
"The response from the audience has been appreciative, honest and deeply engaged," says Aman Raithatha, who performed haveli sangeet with his group. "Abhivyakti is where art truly connects with people. In moments, the energy in the auditorium reaches new heights."
The exposure has been transformative, with many artists gaining recognition beyond Ahmedabad. "We've already expanded to Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot, and plan to take the festival to Mumbai and Pune," says Mehta.
As the lights dim and the curtains rise on yet another edition of Abhivyakti, Ahmedabad continues to rewrite its cultural narrative — one performance, one installation and one ‘abhivyakti' at a time.