The Asha Kirana Project was a longstanding dream for the Mysore-based artist NS Harsha, who is known for his gently philosophical works that introspect on socio-political subjects. This was a first-of-its-kind community project with almost 300 children from government schools that took place at the Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s legislature. Harsha created space for children to reflect their thoughts around the idea of leadership, focusing on its qualities, facets and dimensions. 

On March 1st through a one-hour public performance the schoolchildren - between the ages of 9 and 13 - gathered on the footpath in front of the Vidhana Soudha, standing in a line facing by the breadth of the building. The performance began with the children singing Nada Geethe by Indian national poet Kuvempu, whose poem is Karnataka’s official state anthem. Standees with mirrors on one side and students’ artwork on the back reflected sunlight onto various parts of the Vidhana Soudha building, projecting the youngsters’ reflections in designated parts of the building, covering the entire Assembly symbolically in the ideas, hopes and dreams of the young citizens. The mirrors created a dramatic visual display of dancing light reflections on the Vidhana Soudha, a metaphor for the ideas and aspirations of the young participants temporarily imprinted on the building.