title: Under Saraswati River

description:
Under Saraswati River has been exhibited as a live, audio-visual performance, interactive installation, and a multi-channel video installation. Saraswati is in reference to the Hindu Goddess of learning and the arts. Saraswati is referred to as a river goddess, because she is named for a river that once flowed in Northern India.

Water is also a symbol of purity, and the flow of water a symbol of creativity. She is often depicted holding The Vedas (the book of universal knowledge), a string of pearls for meditation, a container of water for purification (also representing the river for which she is named), and the veena, a musical instrument, which, due to its quality of sound and craft, represents perfection in the arts and sciences.

"Under Saraswati River" was first presented as part of the Domeworks Series at the Children's Museum of Science and Technology in Troy, NY - a presentation of visual and sonic art. The "Under" in the title refers to the fact that the viewers were under the dome. Images representing Saraswati were composited in real-time and projected into the planetarium dome. In addition, Curtis Bahn performed live sitar and dilruba, the sounds from which were synthesized with the vocals of Jayeeta Chowdhury.

collaborators: Curtis Bahn (sitar and dilruba), Jayeeta Chowdhury (vocals)

format: interactive video installation/live cinema performance

exhibitions:

2006
Vertical Gallery Folsom Library RPI, Troy, NY

The Children's Museum, Troy, NY