OVER THE YEARS
The previous editions have helped establish TIS as a noteworthy brand with an event which is anticipated by many. Not only have we successfully promoted Indian design but also have come a long way in demystifying Kolkata’s reputation as a city where such expositions don’t work.
2015 — Our maiden year
We launched in 2015, with our home at Swabhumi. Before our grand inaugural show The India Story was officially launched in September 2015 via the unveiling of our logo at an exclusive preview at Basu-Bati, a heritage mansion in the heart of Kolkata.
2016 — Revive. Reinvent. Relove.
Approximately 50,000 people visited us over the course of 3 days. The preview was open to the press and an invite list of 1000 people.
2017 — Discover the Undiscovered
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During the last edition, nearly 70,000 people visited the main event, including the design exposition and the parallel musical festival, and we were covered by a host of national and international newspapers and journals.
2018 — Above & Beyond
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Above & Beyond conveys a sense of transcendentalism which permeates the perception of space, design and conceptualization of the 2018 edition of The India Story.
2019 — Conjunction​
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To explore the past and imagine the possibilities of the future intuitively — old traditions and new reinterpretations of ideas, spaces and objects across the years. Conjunction as a theme is relevant as the spheres of art and design overlap often in the modern creative space. Imagine the space between two phases, a conjunction if you must, which links generations, cultures and influences and acts as a catalyst to bring these groups closer.
2020 — Continues
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In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we launched The India Story Continues — our first virtual event series. In response to the lockdown, we hosted live conversations, workshops, and performances featuring artists, designers, and influencers from across India. The events were broadcast every Saturday from August to October on YouTube, Facebook, and our website. We were thrilled to continue creating, sharing, and learning with our community during those challenging times.
2021 — Connects
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Over the course of the pandemic, we reflected on connections - with our roots, our culture, each other, our connections with music, food and ourselves. As we got out to face the "new normal", we wondered how we can 'connect' with these changes and embrace them. With a new world to face, laced with more challenges than we had known, art held us together.
TIS Connects emerged as a way to highlight the key relationships between us and the world in the form of art, music, food, fashion, lifestyle and so much more, connecting people with art again.
2022 — Dimensions
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Embracing the theme "Dimensions," this year's event seamlessly blended fashion, architecture, and space design. The highlight was Dev R Nil's installation "The Forest of Lost Feelings," which beautifully embodied this multidisciplinary approach. The event also featured crowd-pleasing performances by the innovative Continew Collective and the talented singer-songwriter Jasleen Royal, adding musical depth to the visual spectacle
2024 — Now
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This year's theme “NOW”, inspired by the number 8 symbolizing infinite possibilities, showcased the multifaceted nature of Kolkata. We introduced “A Calcutta Story”, an edit paying homage to the event’s birthplace. Visitors experienced a curated journey through Kolkata's charm, exploring its dual nature as a home to both dreamers and pragmatists, artists and poets.