Bhubaneswar, Oct. 26: A group of nearly 50 college students today learnt how lights and simple equipment can be used instead of various props to create realistic effects on stage at a workshop conducted by foreign artists, Marta Cicionesi, 52, and Ilkka, 62.
The workshop was conducted as part of the Odisha Biennale that was inaugurated at National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) today.
A black and white tent was put up where the students were shown how pictorial images could be created through effects of light on materials such as mirror foil, net covers and geometric objects.
"The surrounding has an important role to play in stage shows and theatre productions. People generally design sets using props and other stage equipment. What we want to tell people is that the same can be created using light," said Marta. She has to her credit over 100 productions in Sweden, Italy, France, India, Finland and USA. Ilkka has been working with light since his graduation in 1996. He has worked in over 50 theatre productions in Finland, Denmark, India and France.
The duo have been working together for the past 15 years and have conducted similar workshops at various places across the world. They aim to popularise the concept in India. "Not many people here know about it. It is cheaper and provides a lot of scope for innovation," said the set designer.
The workshop proved beneficial to fashion students and youngsters in the field of theatre. "Proper designing of set is an important aspect during stage shows. The workshop helped me learn a new way of bringing life to the surrounding. The techniques used were quite interesting," said Saloni Kriti, a student of textile design of NIFT.
Musical duo from Switzerland, Wood Vibes, also conducted a workshop on playing the musical instruments djembe and didgeridoo.
Around 55 experts on several performing arts, design, visual arts, crafts, music, film and photography will take part in the Odisha Biennale. A number of dancers, photographers and artists will conduct workshops with youngsters during the weeklong festival that will conclude on November 1.
A workshop on the Japanese dance-theatre Butoh will be conducted by Natsu Nakajima, one of the most prominent figures in the dance form founded in Tokyo in the 1960s. A baul music evening by popular singer Laxman Das Baul will also be conducted.
