tenth version of the Gender Bender pageant underway from November 22 in Bengaluru

A collective celebration
| Picture Credit score: Particular Association

The tenth version of Gender Bender will probably be held in Bengaluru this weekend. Initiated in 2015, Gender Bender is a first-of-its-kind, arts-centric pageant in South Asia celebrating contemporary views on gender. Conceived by Sandbox Collective, the pageant has, through the years, grow to be an essential vacation spot for artists and audiences and anybody keen on or curious in regards to the intersection of artwork and gender, says the pageant director for 2024, Prerana YSK. “It additionally brings collectively a various viewers throughout age, class and different social realities to converse on issues of gender and sexuality.”

Prerana is the inventive director of Conflictorium – Museum of Battle, Ahmedabad and will probably be within the metropolis in the course of the pageant. “This yr’s version has been crowd-funded with greater than 500 folks from throughout India and overseas contributing to make the occasion occur,” says Prerana over telephone from Ahmedabad. “It is usually the primary time that the multi-arts pageant can even be held throughout multi-venue in Bangalore Worldwide Centre (BIC), 1, Shanthi Street (Shanthinagar) and Beru (Ramamurthinagar).”

Prerana YSK, pageant director
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Gender Bender will characteristic over 75 artists, who will probably be part of the festive version’s exhibitions, visible installations, workshops, events, quiz, open mic, DJ units, listening occasion, movie screenings, pictures and sound installations.

That is the primary time, Gender Bender has a complete programme for kids and adolescents with an unlimited vary of books and literature, Prerana says. “We even have the Feminist Library, which has a group of crowd-sourced books.”

The 30-year-old pageant director labored within the improvement sector for a few years and earlier than shifting into the humanities. “I used to be how we are able to have significant conversations round what the world is grappling with presently.”

It was this that led her to affix Conflictorium – Museum of Battle. “It’s a 30-year-old museum that responds to issues of democracy and citizenship. It’s a non typical museum.”

Prerana says her purpose with Gender Bender this yr is to make artwork accessible for all. “Anybody can stroll into an artwork present with out hesitation. At occasions, strolling into an artwork gallery requires a sure stage of confidence, which not everyone seems to be snug with. We purpose at making artwork extra pleasurable for a bigger phase of the society.”

This yr’s worldwide artists on the pageant will probably be She She Pop from Berlin and Lapdiang Syiem from Shillong. “She She Pop is one in every of Europe’s most revered impartial feminist collective. They’ve been into making feminist theatre and motion productions for 3 many years.”

They won’t be performing in Bengaluru, Prerana says. “They are going to be giving a chat on November 30. There will probably be a workshop by Lapdiang Syiem, a poetry set up by Shripad Sinnakaar, images by Bhumika Saraswati, a queer sensorium by Mycodyke, and movie screenings by Ektara Collective.”

“Yearly we additionally give away grants to 10 artists and the identical will proceed this yr too. We have now grantees from throughout West Bengal, Delhi, Maharashtra, Himachal, Kashmir and Karnataka for 2024.”

She She Pop from Berlin
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association

Gender Bender is a platform that calls folks collectively to have conversations and reply to issues, ideas, emotions on gender, Prerana says. “The artwork will probably be experiential. The installations might be touched and heard. There will probably be poetry installations, which individuals can hearken to on headphones.”

Gender Bender will probably be held between November 22 and 24 at Beru (Ramamurthi Nagar) , 1, Shanthi Street (Shanthinagar) and on November 27 at Bangalore Worldwide Centre. The occasion is open to all.