Pune, June 11th, 2025: FLAME University, a pioneer in interdisciplinary education, recently concluded the fifth edition of its acclaimed Creators Residency. Held on its sprawling Pune campus, this month-long residency brought together global creators to explore the convergence of traditional art forms and cutting-edge digital technology under the theme “Tradigital Trance: One World for Traditional and Digital Art.” 2y3e5m

This year’s residency spotlighted three visionary artists experimenting with hand-drawn animation, Aboriginal painting reimagined through interactivity, and digitally synthesized classical music. Designed as an immersive lab, the program offered creators access to studio spaces, a makers lab, and hands-on engagement with students—culminating in a public exhibition of new work.

The FLAME Creators Residency envisions establishing FLAME University as an aspirational destination for creators across the globe—a dynamic hotspot where art, technology, and intellectual dialogue converge. Rooted in the values of experiential learning and collaboration, the residency aims to push the boundaries of how we perceive art in a digitally driven world—preserving the past while shaping the future.

This year’s FLAME Creators Residency was thoughtfully designed to provide an immersive, all-encoming experience that nurtured innovation and creativity, encouraging modern expression of traditional art forms. Set within FLAME University’s inspiring campus, the residency witnessed three creators who experimented with projection mapping technology, hand-drawn animation, and digital synthesis of traditional Indian music.

Through a mix of hands-on workshops and student interactions, the residency also witnessed huge student participation, who got the opportunity to closely interact with and learn from these three creators, who were part of this year’s residency. The creators were encouraged to refine their practices while engaging with the wider community and were given access to dedicated studio spaces, advanced facilities such as the makers lab and visual arts studios, and the university library, amongst others. The residency created a flexible environment for them where the creators could deepen their craft, share knowledge through public workshops, and showcase their work in a culminating solo exhibition ed by a production grant.

This year’s FLAME Creators Residency program witnessed the participation of the following creators :

Creator 1: Ritwika Ganguly
Creation 1: The Night Shift: Hand-drawn animations and digital videos, graphite, charcoal, and watercolor

Creator 2: Ninad Palandurkar
Creation: Between Dots and Dreams: A fusion of traditional Aboriginal dot painting and digital interactivity

Creator 3: Aditya Dipankar
Creation: Tanpura: Finding new definitions in the digital world

Speaking on the significance of this residency, Prof. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, FLAME University, said, “The FLAME Creators Residency program champions the preservation of traditional methods while promoting their evolution through digital mediums. With a focus on inclusivity, sustainability, and global outreach, the residency nurtured unconventional ideas, respected diversity, and ed creators through professional development and community engagement. With this annual residency, we aim to create an evolving space that further encourages dialogue and shapes the future of creative practices.”

Also sharing their thoughts were Prof. Swayamsiddha Panigrahi, Faculty of Design, Art, and Performance, FLAME University, and Prof. Arman Ovla, Faculty of Design, Art, and Performance, FLAME University, who shared, “This year’s residency truly embodied the spirit of creative convergence. It was inspiring to witness creators from diverse backgrounds engage in meaningful dialogue, experiment with new mediums, and co-create works that bridge tradition and technology. The energy, curiosity, and exchange of ideas made it a deeply enriching experience for everyone involved, including us as facilitators.”

The FLAME Creators Residency Exhibition 2025 was a celebration of experimentation, collaboration, and the rich intersections of art, tradition, and technology. The annual residency will continue to grow as a globally relevant platform that nurtures creative dialogue and transformative artistic journeys.