Gender Bender is back on stage after being online-only for two years

Falah Faisal

Gender Bender is a one of its kind festivals that is dedicated to the exploration of gender through art. In its eighth edition they continue to celebrate all things gender - from theatre, storytelling, dance, music, talks and books to installations, workshops, photography, podcasts and paintings.

Over three days they will occupy the Bangalore International Centre to showcase the works of the ten artists who have received the Gender Bender grant this year, as well as works by numerous others as part of some very exciting curated events.

Nimi Ravindran of Sandbox Collective, who conceptualized the festival along with Goethe-Institut, says, “The idea is not only to further the gender discourse through art but create a space where we can celebrate gender in all its uniqueness and difference. Sandbox Collective is a women-led organization and everything in our lives has been about gender. It’s an extension of our work.”

Created to contribute and further the gender discourse through art, in the last eight years over 90 individuals have been awarded the Gender Bender grant to create works that further the gender discourse.

As for eligibility for grants, Nimi explains, “The only criteria is that your project should be centered around the arts and it is a new project. It is a trigger grant that allows you the opportunity to try something new and it is alright even if you fail.”

This year, along with eight artists from various locations and backgrounds from across India, they also have two international grantees, a visual artist from Bangladesh and a drag artist from the Philippines.

Among the sessions at this year’s festival is ‘Can Activism Kill you? Activism fatigue, and how to rise and shine each day’. “Can activism kill you? The answer to that is yes. Over 1700 Climate activists have been killed in the last 10 years across the world.

For instance, with the Hijab issue, many students protested for their classmates’ right to wear what they want. But after 10-20 days you see that nothing is changing and you have to go to your exams, it feels a bit hopeless. We need to learn from each other, stay together as a community, give each other strength and continue the good fight,” explains Nimi.

Another feature of the festival is the Lending Library where you don’t borrow but lend them to the library and a karaoke bar. In conclusion, she says “Gender is a difficult topic. There are enough atrocities happening in the name of gender. But we would like to have a space where we can celebrate. It is largely a celebratory festival.”

Where: BIC, Domlur

When: Dec 9-11, 11:30 am – 9 pm

Entry: Free