PORLWI BY NATURE – a cultural festival and a feast for the senses

In 2016 I learned about the Porlwi festival from facebook, seeing some amazing photoes. My decision was made. I wanted to be in there for the 2017 event. The first festival was held in 2015, during the first week-end in Desember.

Porlwi is a festival of contemporary culture held in the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis. The intention is to advocate culture, but it also has a very strong educational component. It involves a lot of people, stimulating creativity and culture. To make the festival possible, artists of all kinds, architects, technicians, educators, designer etc., are gathered. Most of it happens in the streets. Exhibitions, shows, educational films are shown in historic buildings among others, opened up for the event.

The theme of the 3rd edition in 2017 was NATURE – the desire was to reconnect with the land and integrate with nature. Port Louis turned into a greener city. Bourbon street turned into a pedestrian street. Usually the streets of the city are completely empty at night. But during the festival the inner city was full of life. People were out in the streets until midnight, watching light shows, street artist at work, music performances, eating food in the streets, visiting galleries. The festival made art in all forms becomes something everyone can enjoy. Everything was free to be enjoyed, except for food and drinks. And for the artists – a great way to be seen.

At the Citadel - a fortress and historic monument, high above the city, the theme was solar power. When it got dark, the “solar jars” lit up the inner space within it’s walls. Music and light performance added another dimensions to the whole experience. Bigger parts of the fortress was open up to the public. Parts that usually are closed could now be seen by the inhabitants of the island.

Boubon street looked completely different! Illuminated buildings. Windows decorated with flowers. Plants. Street food. Musicians entertained several places. Along the way, we could see the street artist working, completing their murals.

This large bird is made of cans discarded in nature – an invitation to the viewer to reflect on the impact of our consumerism and our environment.

Walking to Ilot Grenier, passing the old military hospital. It was decorated and illuminated in a way that made the old walls look ghostly in the dark...

Inside Ilot Grenier. Normally a parking garage, there was a contemporary art exhibition that really made an impression. The first encounter was a creation of a “hanging garden”. Plants “floating” and beautifully illuminated.

This creation was named “Humanizing Nature”. Beside on a board it said: «Through these human size figures, the artist seeks to demonstrate our interdependency with Nature. Earth, Air, Fire and Water are the four elements og which we are all made, regardless of the color of our skin. He denounces the exploitative, selfish and self destructive nature og this relationship. Employing materials drawn from nature to construct the figures's heads the artist insits upon our being an integral part of our ecosystem»

At the waterfront a huge open air cinema was set up, showing the documentary Mystic Mauritius. There had been put up a siting area, fully decorated with plants. A real nice oasis to just relax.

In the “shopping street” at Le Gaudan, was where the street performers were intertaining They were dressed as animals. Here we saw som beautiful “Jellyfish 2 doing a graceful dance.

What made the deepest impression on me, was the youth involved in the project. They were there to meet us. Educate us. They were so knowledgeable. In detailes they would educate the visitor on invironmental issues as global warming, pollution etc. To involve the youth in a way like Mauritius does at this event, is a unique way of raising awareness on invironmental issues among the youngest generation. Not only that, but about their own culture and its history.

You can find the Street Art from the festival that artist worked with here https://steemit.com/art/@digi-me/street-art-mauritius-part-2-the-latest-development-of-street-art-in-mauritius

U.J

Kristiansand, Norway

All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)