Mumbai’s historic Afghan Church in Colaba to light up with immersive Projection Mapping 

ASCENSION, an experience by Floating Canvas Company will bring light, colour and celestial imagery inside the heritage structure 

This August, Mumbai’s historic Afghan Church in Colaba will turn into an incandescent canvas for a stunning projection mapping experience courtesy the Floating Canvas Company (FCC). As part of the Mumbai Light Festival, FCC will debut ASCENSION, an illuminated installation project that will transform the church’s Gothic arches, architectural details and atmospheric interiors with light, colour and celestial imagery. 

Running from August 27 to 29, from 7 pm to 10 pm, ASCENSION is inspired by humanity’s enduring fascination with looking beyond the known. In keeping with the soaring theme, cosmic magnificence infused with radiance will move across the church’s architecture, creating endlessly diverse visual compositions. 

Rather than treating the building simply as a backdrop, FCC approached the architecture itself as the origin story. Visitors can sit within the church and witness the awe-inspiring interplay of shifting patterns with the building’s existing stained glass and Gothic forms. 

“While working with a heritage structure, it is of paramount importance that the technology responds to the architecture, not overpower it. There are always technical and logistical challenges with any new project, but the aim with ASCENSION in particular was to ensure that the Afghan Church remained at the heart of the immersive experience,” said Aagam Mehta, Head of Projects, FCC. 

Rahul Singh Yadav, Creative Director, FCC, concurred that the creative process began with an acknowledgement of the architectural particularities of the church. “The Church has an incredible visual language of its own. We did not want to overwhelm that with layers of projection. We wanted to work with built-in nuances and use light to bring out aspects that people may not notice during a visit.” 

The project also underscores FCC’s intention to encourage a fresh look at Mumbai’s architectural heritage. “There are buildings in Mumbai that people pass every day without really stopping to look at them. With ASCENSION, we wanted to create a reflective pause. If art and technology can bring people closer to their own milieu and the structures they overlook, it can open up interesting possibilities for how we experience and value our heritage,” said Shakti Swarup Sahu, Creative Director, FCC. 

ASCENSION is part of the Mumbai Light Festival, a public art initiative spearheaded by FCC that brings light-based works by artists and designers into shared urban spaces. 

Event Details 

ASCENSION 

General Access – August 27-29, 7-10 PM 

Venue – Afghan Church, Colaba, Mumbai