The fourth edition of the cultural fête will feature 120 events across 19 Indian cities
Bengaluru, NFAPost: The fourth edition Of ‘Bonjour India’ Festival to fuel Indo-French people-to-people relations will begin in the city on April 12th, said Consul General of France in Bengaluru Thierry Berthelot.
“The ‘Bonjour India’ festival is a mega voyage across India that will celebrate Indo-French partnership through April-May-June 2022 showcasing eclectic art and cultural shows,” said Consul General of France in Bengaluru Thierry Berthelot.
He also pointed out that ‘Bonjour India’ festival is hosted by Bengaluru French Consulate office and cultural agencies and will ring in some positive vibes, build communities and foster social interaction.
“The fourth edition of the programme, through this 4th edition, is happening after an interruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is France’s gift to India on its 75th anniversary of Independence and 75 years of the establishment of Indo-French diplomatic relations,” said Consul General of France in Bengaluru Thierry Berthelot.
Programmes in Bangalore
The festival in Bangalore will start on 12th April with “Convergence”, an exclusive photography exhibition titled and presenting works of prominent French photographers who have traveled & lived in India from the mid-19th century to the 1970s.
Venue : Bangalore International Centre (BIC)
https://www.ifindia.in/event/convergence-photography-exhibition/
To support music lovers, ‘Bonjour India’ festival will have a concert (In)Chorus on April 23 with the participation of famous Kora player Chérif Soumano performing with classical guitar and Shahbaaz Khan with his traditional tabla. [In]Chorus is a musical platform to promote promising young musicians of all genres, Indian and French, through residencies, concerts, meetings, and workshops.
Venue : Alliance Française de Bangalore
https://www.ifindia.in/event/inchorus-cherif-soumano
In an effort to touch maximum number of Bengalurean spectators, Wall Art Festival starts on April 27th. The programme will have a colorful journey that intends to gather French and Indian artists in a mutual passion for wall paintings, bringing new shapes and colors to the streets.
Venue : Rangoli Metro Art Center
https://www.ifindia.in/event/wall-art-festival/
There will be another event on art in public spaces from April 25 to May 1. The event will have exhibitions and workshops dwelling on design, planning and architecture of cities and built spaces in India from the intersectional lens of gender, age, ability, class and caste.
Venue : Rangoli Metro Art Center
https://www.ifindia.in/event/city-for-all/
Science exhibition
But the cynosure of all eyes will be the ‘Science beyond borders …. Connecting the dots between France and India’, an exhibition highlighting the stories of exchanges between top minds of the two countries across centuries right until the modern-day through a travelling exhibition.
“The one-month exhibition on History of Science will give an overview on how deep the research and development initiatives between France and India, especially in the field of space research. This partnership started way back the pre-independence period,” said Consul General of France in Bengaluru Thierry Berthelot.
He also highlighed the fact that many French IT companies are operating out of this city along with French startups working with Indian partners.
“The French companies value the prominence of IT/BT capabilities of this city along with its flourishing startup innovation ecosystem. They want to work with the community here and ‘Bonjour India’ festival is ideal for them to do networking,” said Consul General of France in Bengaluru Thierry Berthelot.
As part of the programme, there will be interaction with the French scientific community with the Indian research community. “We have a joint laboratory at IISc where French scientists are working with their Indian counterparts in the space of water and healthcare. Various French research establishments are involved in this project,” added Thierry Berthelot.
The exhibition remains open to viewers from May 6 to till May 21.
Venue : Bangalore International Centre (BIC)
https://www.ifindia.in/event/science-beyond-borders
The bouquet of programs for Bangalore comes to an end with an exhibition by ace photographer Parmanand Dalwadi called A trip to France, 1970. This exhibition, from June 6 to 30, focuses on Parmanand Dalwadi’s journey to France in the ’70s tracing 50 photos captured with his Nikon F and these showcase the influence of Cartier-Bresson on his art. He captured incongruous and unusual situations combining humour, tenderness and observations of French society which are described with short stories for each photo.
Venue : Alliance Française de Bangalore
https://www.ifindia.in/event/travel-to-france
According to the French Consulate official, Bonjour India 2022 will showcase 120 events across 19 Indian cities, co-created by French and Indian partners in domains ranging across education, science, literature, cinema, gastronomy, street art, performing arts and photography.
Events will reclaim urban public spaces and raise questions about equality of access and gender issues. The Bonjour India 2022 is coordinated by the Embassy of France, various French Consulates, the French Institute in India and the 14 Alliance Française chapters.
