Meena XR
Meena XR is an innovative interactive piece that explores the use of classical Indian dance Mudras as an interplanetary communication system. Set in a post-AI world, this prototype tests the Mudra recognition system handcrafted by Meenakshi in 2079. The Mudra Machine is a digital heritage software designed by Meenakshi to teach Bharatanatyam hand gestures. This playful learning system recognizes single-hand gestures and pulls up diverse audio-visual media, complemented by a physical experience that includes 3D printed hand sculpts, vintage photo albums enhanced with AI art, and decor from Meenakshi’s 2079 studio. Meena XR seamlessly blends traditional dance with advanced technology, inviting participants to engage in a unique cultural and educational journey.
Videogame
Antara is an immersive video game experience built within Fortnite, transporting players into the shoes of Digital Heritage Scavengers in a post- AI future. Set in the year 2079, players join our protagonists on a mission to recover fragments of India’s lost heritage scattered across a ravaged digital landscape. As scavengers, they navigate through futuristic environments, uncovering ancient artefacts, forgotten traditions, and hidden stories that piece together the rich tapestry of India’s cultural legacy. Antara combines the thrill of exploration with the profound task of preserving cultural memory, offering a unique blend of action and education within the dynamic world of Fortnite.
Sculptures
VEENA Model No. 12 is a post-cyberpunk sculpture representing a hybrid musical instrument from the year 2079. Crafted by our protagonists, this innovative piece merges the traditional South Indian Veena with salvaged analog, digital, electronic, and Gen-AI components from abandoned Indian smart cities. The sculpture also explores a profound visual metaphor, drawing parallels between the Veena and the human spine—a reference rooted in Indian music and religious studies. Both the Veena and the spine feature the same number of ‘frets’ and a central ‘brain,’ symbolizing the intricate connection between human anatomy and musical harmony. As both a device for creating new forms of dance music and an archive, VEENA Model No. 12 pays homage to the great masters of the Veena tradition whose legacies have faded in the cultural amnesia of 2079.
