Of worlds within worlds FEATURED EVENTS

Kaavad Katha: Doors of Maya draws from the Kaavad tradition of Rajasthan, where a portable wooden shrine unfolds through painted doors, each revealing a story, genealogy, or sacred narrative. Functioning as object, archive, and theatre, the Kaavad carries stories across generations through performance and oral tradition.

Presented in dialogue with of worlds within worlds, the retrospective of Gulammohammed Sheikh at Durbar Hall, the performance reflects Sheikh’s engagement with layered storytelling, miniature painting traditions, and the coexistence of multiple histories within a single pictorial space. Within this context, the exhibition becomes a field of unfolding narratives where each artwork opens another door into interconnected worlds.

The performance begins in the exhibition galleries as a Kaavadiya storyteller encounters a Kabir singer, initiating a dialogue between oral storytelling and devotional poetry. As audiences move through the space, fragments of Kabir’s songs and Kaavad stories resonate alongside the artworks, gradually transforming the exhibition into a living storytelling shrine.

Drawing on the philosophical idea of Maya, the layered and shifting nature of reality, the performance reimagines the Kaavad as a contemporary storytelling device. As each door opens, worlds overlap: myth and memory, history and imagination, the sacred and the everyday.

About the Artists:

Akhshay Gandhi, is a theatre artist & facilitator. He is a SITI Company (NYC) ambassador, visiting faculty at Lalit Kala Kendra & Drama School Mumbai. His work has been performed at prestigious venues and festivals. He is fascinated by the profundity in ‘daily life’ and ‘mythology’. His current work includes, an interdisciplinary solo, It Is What It Is and a play Epic for NCPA Connections.

Rohit Bhasi, is a Bengaluru based self-taught visual artist. His practice is an ongoing journey of exploring connections between ancient narratives and contemporary society. Rohit’s fascination for the human body and its potential for beauty, creation and destruction has led him towards the performing arts and storytelling traditions.

Anita Gandhi, adeptly juggles numerous roles with dynamic teams and creative individuals. An MBA in finance with acute observation skills, she fulfills the diverse roles of host, organizer, cook, coordinator, calendar planner, finance manager and a steadfast support system.

While you’re here, explore KNMA’s ongoing exhibition
of worlds within worlds
Part of Kochi-Muziris Biennale.