Ever since we started out, we’ve constantly sought to bring exciting artists and ideas to the fore. Ideas that not just exist but engage as well. That’s what made Sajid Wajid Shaikh’s Amygdala Anomalies so special. A multi-sensorial experience bringing together sights, sounds and an evocative ambience, it went from being an experiment to an unforgettable 72-hour trip.

“As an experiment, Amygdala Anomalies seeks to explore the constant conflict between fear and fascination - invoked by the unseen, unheard and unknown.”

- Sajid Wajid Shaikh

The Sights and Sounds

Three years in the making, the project started out with a set of sketches. Letting his subconscious take over, Sajid fleshed out fourteen otherworldly creatures. Graphic, surreal and fascinating at the same time, the next step was to breathe life into them. For this, he chose to collaborate with fourteen musicians and sound designers who interpreted every character sonically, evoking their sounds, surroundings and state of existence. 

The featured artists include thebigfatminimalist, Colorblind, Cosmic Attic, Cowboy and Sailorman, Echofloat, Jamlu, Kalab, Lawntuba, Maua, Parag, Riatsu, Sujit, Spryk and Zanuski. From shades ranging from dark and brooding to positively upbeat, it’s a playlist that can be described as part-everything.

With the creatures now alive, it was time to find them an apt terrain.

The Setting

The search for finding the right space for this experiment ended at Lab Coworking. Located in Lower Parel’s Sun Mill Compound, this sparse yet massive studio space proved to be just right for creating the experience we had in mind.  

As visitors walked into the exhibition space, they were greeted with a dark, empty zone with fourteen black monoliths, each featuring a creature. With headphones and a website link provided at the entrance, they could walk around the entire space, from one monolith to the other, and explore the sounds created for each of them.

Also adding to the whole vibe were three live performances by the incredibly talented Lawntuba, Riatsu x Neil Gomes and Cowboy and Sailor Man. With one gig scheduled each day, it gave visitors a chance to take off their headphones and soak in the experience as a collective.  

Day 1: Lawntuba

Day 2: Riatsu x Neil Gomes

Day 3: Cowboy and Sailorman

Meditative, provoking, disturbing, fascinating and unforgettable. That’s Amygdala Anomalies in a nutshell. Here’s a look:

‘Amygdala Anomalies’ was held from 30^th March – 1^st April, 2018 at Lab Coworking, Lower Parel, Mumbai.