“THE INVENTION OF RIVERS”

Keynote speech by Dilip da Cunha

The keynote address at the opening of Water & Sound will be delivered by renowned architect, planner and author Dilip da Cunha, whose work is redefining the perception and use of water in design and culture. Da Cunha, currently a professor at Columbia University and co-founder of the design firm Mathur/da Cunha, is known for his groundbreaking book “The Invention of Rivers: Alexander’s Eye and Ganga’s Descent”. In this work, he challenges the conventional notion of rivers as fixed entities and instead creates a vision of “ubiquitous wetness” that overcomes the artificial separation of land and water.

In his keynote, da Cunha explores the metaphysical and sensory dimensions of water as sound and presence, making connections between rivers such as the Ganges and the general water cycle. How have rivers been culturally and historically constructed as linear flows? At the same time, he argues for recognizing the inherent fluidity of water – its rainfall, seepage, infiltration and evaporation. By interweaving design, ecology and human perception, da Cunha invites the audience to reconsider their relationship with water as a living force that shapes not only landscapes but also cultural perceptions and soundscapes.

Opening program Rivers of the Sky:

18:30 Admission | 19:00 Keynote & Artist Talk |
20:15 Sheherazaad | 21:30 Karolina Cicha & Patrycja Betley

July 25 – Park Theater – 7:00 p.m.

Photo: Anuradha Mathur