The Serendipity Arts Foundation has been a long-term partner of the French Institute in India (IFI), and this year, IFI proudly supported the participation of French artists at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2024, held in Panjim, Goa, from December 15–22. This prestigious festival celebrated creativity across diverse art forms, with France’s contribution standing out as a dynamic and poetic showcase of contemporary artistic expression, featuring visual art installations, contemporary dance, and performance.
A premier arts festival in India, Serendipity Arts Festival is known for its artistic diversity, commitment to social inclusion, and focus on sustainability. By fostering cross-cultural exchange, it sparks conversations on the role of art in social change. IFI remains dedicated to supporting this global artistic platform, strengthening India-France cultural collaborations.
Among the festival’s highlights was The Poetics of Waters, an exhibition curated by Pascal Beausse from Cnap (French National Center for Visual Arts). The exhibition explored the deep connection between individuals and water, bridging French waterfronts and Goa’s coastal landscapes through the works of contemporary French artists. Notable contributions included Ange Leccia’s poetic video installations, which immersed viewers in visual storytelling, and the powerful video and performance piece by Emmanuelle Huynh and Jocelyn Cottencin, capturing the movement and essence of Saint-Nazaire, France.
The festival reached its peak with TO DA BONE, an electrifying live performance by La Horde – Ballet National de Marseille, held on December 18 at Kala Academy’s parking lot. Rooted in jumpstyle culture, this immersive and high-energy dance performance was one of the festival’s most memorable moments.
By supporting Serendipity Arts Festival, the French Institute in India continues to champion artistic innovation, cross-border creativity, and cultural dialogue, reinforcing the strong India-France artistic partnership.
(LA)HORDE
Redefining Contemporary Dance and Performance Art
(LA)HORDE is a visionary artist collective founded in 2013 by Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, and Arthur Harel. Their work challenges the conventions of contemporary live art and performing arts, pushing the boundaries of movement and expression.
Since assuming leadership of the Ballet National de Marseille in September 2019, (LA)HORDE has created choreographic works, films, video installations, and performances, all centered around the body in motion. Their innovative approach continues to shape the future of contemporary dance and multidisciplinary art.
On December 18, 2024, a performance of TO DA BONE by La Horde took place, marking the final show of the 2024 Alliances tour. The India tour of TO DA BONE, an innovative performance by (LA)Horde and the Ballet National de Marseille, immersed the audience in the intimate revolts of youth and the transformative power of movement.
Set in a world where revolutions erupted at night and laws were passed by day, TO DA BONE explored new forms of rebellion in the era of social media. Drawing inspiration from the Hardstyle movement and “post-internet” dance forms, the performance showcased dynamic styles such as Jumpstyle, Tekstyle, Shuffle, and Hakken.
Ange Leccia
Blending Technology and Visual Poetry
Ange Leccia, a Corsican-born artist, began his filmmaking career in the 1970s after studying cinema at Sorbonne University. As a Villa Médicis resident, he created Arrangements, a thought-provoking work featuring industrial objects in face-to-face encounters. While teaching at the Beaux-Arts de Grenoble, he mentored renowned artists like Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and Philippe Parreno.
In the 1990s, Leccia developed contemplative, looped video installations exploring themes of wandering and introspection. Appointed Director of the Pavillon du Palais de Tokyo in 2000, he also designed opera and dance performance sets. His work, exhibited internationally, seamlessly merges technology with visual poetry.
At the Serendipity Arts Festival 2024, Leccia presented The Sea All Gone Along With the Sun (2016), a 41-minute video installation. Inspired by his Corsican heritage, he views the island as both a retreat and a wellspring of artistic exploration.
The piece, titled after a Rimbaldian reference, weaves together fragments from various films and videos created throughout his career. Using split-screen techniques, Leccia crafts a rhythmic, immersive experience that mirrors the movement of waves against a perpetually rising sun. This evocative installation invites viewers to reflect on their own memories, emotions, and the passage of time.
Emmanuelle Huynh and Jocelyn Cottencin
Exploring the rhythms of industrial waterfronts
Emmanuelle Huynh, a renowned choreographer, and Jocelyn Cottencin, a visual artist and filmmaker, form a multidisciplinary duo that seamlessly blends dance, visual arts, and performance. Their work explores space, memory, and the relationship between movement and image, resulting in innovative projects such as A Taxi Driver, an Architect and the High Line—a fusion of urban exploration, choreography, and storytelling—and Saint-Nazaire, a video portrait examining the socio-political and industrial identity of this historic French port city.
Their installation, We’ve Come Too Far to Forget Who We Are (2019), was activated through a live choreographic performance on December 16, 2024. This polysemic portrait of Saint-Nazaire delves into its industrial history, cultural evolution, and diverse communities, capturing the organic rhythms of the city.
Blending memory, history, and cross-cultural encounters, the work reflects on the imprint of collective and territorial identity on individuals. It also offers a powerful commentary on societal issues, labor, and the relationship between industry and the natural environment.
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