I am writing this post embraced in the warm afterglow of an excellent weekend spent in Bangalore. I still have trouble believing that Harshay and I made a movie and people saw it, then there was the exhibition — a first for my project India Street Lettering, and oof the zines, scores and scores of you got yourself a copy, wow! None of this, of course, would have been possible without Amber, who likes to kid that everyone must believe he is my intern, but is, in fact, the best partner one could ask for.
My parents decided to come down for the screening and exhibition, and it was incredibly fun to have them there, and introduce them to our old life in Bangalore, and to our friends who live in the city.
Writing this week’s notes, which are being published late as it is, is proving to be hard. I seem to have forgotten most of last week in the excitement of the weekend. But here it goes, anyway.
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
1.
At the Experience BIC festival, we were lucky to see an exhibition of Paul Fernandes’ work and attend a walkthrough with him. Paul was so gentle, kind and funny. I left with a renewed appreciation of his work, knowing how personal it is to him. He talked about drawing Bangalore in a way that allowed others to weave in their own memories, rather than imposing a vision that was only his.
2.
My favourite movie at the B•LORE Short Film Festival was Naveen Tejaswi’s Imaana. It told the story of his village and his undying love of aeroplanes, and left me so moved that I couldn’t help but cry. If you get a chance, please, please watch this film.
3.
Earlier in the week, I transcribed and edited the first draft of an interview I conducted a couple of weeks ago for an object history that I am writing. It really is a testament to how much my mental health has improved piece by piece that now I can suggest an interview to a client, rather than shirk away from one.
4.
I also had the unenviable job of reviewing an in-progress typeface for a consultancy I am doing. Of all the writing I do, it is probably these notes that I find most challenging. I would much rather talk and explain. Setting that preference aside, I put my head down and prepared a document with feedback and sent it off before I took off for Bangalore.