Facilitated by Pralay Mistri and Avik Debdas 

28 and 29 September 2023

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm 

KNMA Saket

The workshop will embrace a small step into the world of Unity- a real time game developing platform with an eloquent gesture of stitching facts and fiction. The experience will delve into the art of incorporating archival (personal/institutional) resources, crafting compelling characters, and weaving intricate narratives within the conceptual framework of a game design. As participants (18 years and above) will navigate through a process of collaboration, will gain a profound insight into the expansive potential of interactive art and the dynamic engagement it offers to players. It is mandatory to attend both days of the workshop. Participants are required to carry their own laptop with Unity (open-source gaming software) preinstalled. Basic art materials and refreshments will be provided by the museum.

Pralay Mistri is a visual artist with an insatiable curiosity, constantly seeking new avenues of creative exploration. His artistic journey spans a diverse range of media, including gaming, interactive graphic novel, video, film, performance, animation, painting, drawing, and music. Through this wide array of mediums, Pralay delves into captivating themes such as the collective fear that permeates society, the ephemerality of our world, and pressing social issues by exhibiting a unique blend of fiction and fact. One of Pralay’s defining characteristics is his collaborative spirit, actively engaging with practitioners from various fields. He frequently immerses himself in music production, weaving soundscapes that enhance and complement his visual creations.

Pralay was born and raised up in Kolkata and his qualifications offer him to work various parts of India. In 2018, he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. During his studies, he achieved West Bengal State Akademi Award for Painting in 2016. Subsequently, he pursued his passion for digital art and storytelling by completing a Master of Design in Digital Game Design from the National Institute of Design, Bangalore in 2021

Avik Debdas is an artist, researcher, and curatorial enunciator, based in New Delhi. His decision to turn to contemporary art, in spite of working as a Senior Associate Engineer in a Chemical Plant at Haldia, West Bengal for 8 years, generate a thoughtful and creative yield on the question of migration, ecology and landless labor. His artistic expression always nurtures across media including Photography, Video, Film, Poetry, Performance, Coding, Game, Installation etc.

He presented his works at Khoj-Peers Share Program 2022, participated in the virtual rendition of Students’ Biennale (2021). He was awarded the Asia Art Archive-Inlaks Grant 2020 and MS Randhwa Award 2019 in College of Art, New Delhi. He conceptualized an Open House Exhibition at the Centre for Art and Free Expression, at Jamia Nagar in 2018. Currently, He is working as Curatorial and Research Associate at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi and teaching Aesthetics as an Assistant Professor(guest) at College of Art, New Delhi.