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I’m looking at a really delicious photo of honey glazed carrots and sorghum sauce. A few seconds before, I ask myself for the first time in my life if it’s worth reaching for an amaranth porridge with cranberry compote for breakfast the next morning.
This sudden interest in millet has been accentuated through Google’s new online exhibition, “Millets: The Seeds of Change. “Google Arts and Culture has collaborated with India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to celebrate the history and growing foreign importance of millet, of which India is the world’s largest producer.
After discovering the experience, I met Pierre Caessa, director of partnerships at Google Arts.
How did you come up with the idea of opening an exhibition on millet?
Pierre – We really know that food and gastronomy are a culture. And one thing we haven’t done yet (and this was literally close to my center) is to be kinder to Indian food. It’s one of the things that literally amazes you when you look at it. I came here for the first time as a foreigner! So I tried to make sure I located those new projects around gastronomy. Last year was also the International Year of Millet, so we thought it was the best time to take this program from local (India) to global.
What do you hope the Indian public will take away from this experience?
My first goal with this task is to collect stories, through the virtual exhibition, that will make other people fall in love with millet. It’s literally about making other people understand why this culture holds wonderful promise for the future. . Millet also requires 70% less water in its production cycle, for example, compared to wheat. Therefore, in the context of the environment and climate change, it can be a game-changer.
Google has made many interactive reports mixing generation and culture. Recently, an exhibition has been held on Matchbox Mementos and Hindi Cinema. What kind of responses do you get from the regular consumer?
Pierre – Yes, we introduced Matchbox Mementos a few months ago, in collaboration with the Museum of the Arts.
The biggest reaction already in the place, a room full of museum buffs and other people who love the generation, was very enthusiastic for a reason. They found it to be a lovely way to highlight this very special heritage.
We also aim to get young people excited about culture and heritage. And it’s through generating cutting-edge tactics that we bridge that gap.
Among India-specific projects done through Google Arts
Pierre – Of course, it’s hard for me to choose, but I probably wouldn’t lie. I think for me Hindi cinema was a historical project. First, it brought together more than 20 institutes from all over the country to celebrate a very dynamic cultural form. So that’s all that doesn’t happen in each and every case. day, right?
And, for me personally, it was a wonderful introduction to a topic so broad that I didn’t know where to start. As is the case with many other people outside India who are interested in Hindi cinema!Do you start by watching Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge first? Or do you start with something from the 60s?So this assignment helped me navigate this enchanting world of cinema.
Made in India, the largest online exhibition of its kind showcases Indian handicrafts, looms, and artists in those art forms. Is there anything that affects weavers and craftsmen?
In reality, this task is about celebrating creators and capturing what happens on stage. Who are these creators? How is generational wisdom passed on?For us, it was a way to highlight the artisans who built those amazing works of art.
However, since Google Arts and Culture is a non-profit organization, all associations globally are non-commercial. Our purpose is to make culture and the arts available to everyone. And that’s been supported over the years because I think a lot of other people within the company think it’s a vital initiative. It’s an integral component of our Google DNA to try to make data and culture available to everyone online.
(The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. )
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