Lighting as interpretation
National award‑winning designer GyanDev Singh stressed that light should function as 'interpretation' in performance rather than mere illumination — a succinct mindset boost for designers and cinematographers this week (x.com).
Gyandev Singh is the recipient of the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awarded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for stage lighting design in 2014. (gyandevsingh.com) He holds a Masters in Stage Design from the National School of Drama and received a national scholarship from India’s Department of Human Resource Development during that period. (gyandevsingh.com) His credits include long‑term collaborations with choreographers and directors such as Akram Khan, Aditi Mangaldas, Malavika Sarukkai, Leela Samson and Kumudini Lakhia. (gyandevsingh.com) Festival invitations for his lighting work have included the Edinburgh International Festival, the Adelaide Theatre Festival and the Prague Quadrennial, and his productions have played venues from the Sydney Opera House to Symphony Space on Broadway. (gyandevsingh.com) He designed lighting for large musicals and dance productions including Umrao Jaan Ada and Babasaheb: The Musical, and his stage work features in productions such as Anjaneyam and Parama Padam. (gyandevsingh.com) A profile in The Hindu (June 9, 2022) described his approach of using light as an active, dramaturgical element that interacts with choreography rather than only providing visibility. (thehindu.com) (thehindu.com) He is based in Chandigarh and was awarded a year‑long grant by the India Foundation for the Arts for 2019–2020 to support his practice as a lighting designer and visual artist. (indiaifa.org)
