Then, two years ago, The Rietberg Museum in Zürich contacted him to work on the India chapter of an exhibition on mirrors. "The idea was to understand how different cultures interpreted the object," he explains, adding that it led to a more focused study and culminated in four short documentaries (helmed by Vinay) on rituals prevalent in the region that use or interpret mirrors in their practices.

"There is a performance ritual native to northern Kerala and parts of Karnataka, called Teyyam, which is a spirit-possession ritual. It is interesting because they use a mirror to transform from human to the divine," he shares, while explaining the subject of one of the films. Similarly, there's another short on Ali Chamundi Kaliyattam, a performance ritual of Ali, a Mappilaiii Muslim fruit trader whose reincarnated spirit is worshipped by Hindus and Muslims, at Arikkadi Bhagavatu00c4u00ab Temple, Kasargod.

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Today, in an event put together by CSMVS, called Mirrors of the Malabar, all of the four films will be screened and interspersed with a lecture by Vinay. "My background has been in exhibitions, where I have had to travel to various places. Then, during my time in Delhi, going through the archives of the Lalit Kala Academy and the Sangeet Kala Academy exposed me to fantastic footage on living traditions and ritual performances. So, this was an interest that lingered. I was also interested in documenting craft, which I have done with the Crafts Council of India, Chennai. But what I was most keen on understanding, was the relationship between craftsmen and idols," the 33-year-old shares, explaining the genesis behind this inquest into the fascinating world of mirrors.

ON Today, 5.30 pm
AT CSMVS, Mahatma Gandhi Road.
CALL 22844519 (Museum entry charges applicable)

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