My arts practice is based in Birmingham and much of my work, which ranges from commissioned painting and sculpture through to video and live performance, is influenced by the city’s architecture and its people. Drum Light  | | Movement and dance is mirrored on The Big Screen |
I look forward to the opportunity to perform at this year’s Artsfest and will be producing a work called 'Drum Light' using the BBC Big screen as an interactive 'canvas'. A visual series of 'rhythm images' will be displayed on the screen and urban-fusion dancers will be invited to interpret the images to which I'll be playing improvised percussion on stage. The performances will be at 6pm and 7pm on Saturday 10th September, in Chamberlain Square and last about 15 minutes each. Drum Light will be technically assisted by Matt Randall (Visual) and Andrew Bourbon (Sound) from the Birmingham tic (Technology and Innovation Centre). I'm hoping to rope Andrew, who has also performed as a sound-artist with Birmingham based group BEAST, to improvise alongside me on stage. Dancers from Liquid Fusion  | | Saranjit perfroms 'movement' art |
The dancers that will be performing are a real talented bunch that has been attending the Sunday 'Liquid Fusion' nights currently at the Zinc Bar. Over the last four years I've been instrumental, along with other key dancers and innovative DJ’s in establishing this unique evening, where the music ranges from trad-jazz to modern broken-beat, fusing break-dance with ballet and contemporary jazz. We try and create an atmosphere of mutual respect, learning, challenge, improvisational skill, and hard-graft. In the sweat of it, it becomes a spiritual experience. Motion suits and animations  | | 'Rave' |
The Drum Light project started out more ambitious, using motion suits and animation techniques. However, this will be a longer term programme and will involve using the tic facilities. I work part-time as an architect, but am involved in art projects for the rest of the time. It's a 24-7 cycle and sometimes all you have is self-belief and a desire to offer to the world another viewpoint. Architecture, dance and music  | | Architectural art work |
To relate architecture, dance and music seems an impossibility. However, as dancer and architect I’ve discovered a deeper connection with the visual forms, and it is very real and tangible. The theories and philosophies I base my own perception around, are those explored by Kandinsky and other art theorists of the 'Modernist Period'. I suppose if I have a reason for being on this planet, it is to explore creativity and inspire beginnings, for these are life changing. We live in a world of small 'parts' that fight at the boundaries. My job is to try and see a future of no boundaries, only 'transitions' open to all at any time, a fusion. Is that too esoteric.. are you with me? Find out more For those interested, I will be playing with 'EFFUSION', a six-piece Jazz-fusion band, at Mackenzies Bar, Corporation Street, on 8th September which will be an inspirational evening of music and dance. You can find out more about my work by visiting my website at www.saranjitbirdi.com. | 
