Can Meghalaya inspire Slovakia? Can the lush green hills, the rolling meadows and the misty landscape be etched on the hearts and minds of artists from a faraway land with different culture, tradition and people?
“The hills here remind me of my country,” Ivan Lancaric, the ambassador of Slovakia Republic to India, summarised the emotions of seven visiting artists from the eastern European nation and five other countries, all of whom were part of an art residency programme held recently in South West Khasi Hills.
Aptly named Peh Khaw, which in English translates to ‘separating the grain from the chaff’, the art exhibition was a reflection of the artists’ innate curiosity about the newness around them that they commingled with unique creativity. Works of artists Bianca Tschaikner from Austria, Barbora Kachlikova from Czech Republic, Jana Bednarova and Kristina Kandrikova from Slovakia, Kaoru Shibuta from Japan, Katya Buchatska from Ukraine and Lasse Mouritzen from Denmark were displayed at the exhibition at Windermere Resorts in the city on December 1.
A glance at some of the works, especially of Shibuta, gave an impression of an inchoate idea but a closer look with a mind as curious as the artist may reveal the assimilation of the young artist’s impressions of nature. The visual artist from Japan also painted impromptu at the venue as singer Alakesh Dutta strummed a Slovakian song followed by an Assamese one.
One does not have to be an aficionado to instantly feel the creative vibes and energy effused by Shibuta that is complemented by his co-performer’s calm countenance.
The visual artists’ experiment with forms, colours and subtlety was impressive. Katya’s ‘view from inside a car’ was real.
The art exhibition was a culmination of the residency programme, Artists’ Point 2018, which is aimed at creating a dialogue between diverse art forms of different cultures, promoting and creating interest in art education and social awareness through art and providing a platform for creative skill development of for the youths of Meghalaya.
The artists reached Jakrem in the first week of November. They had their art residency programme with a workshop for schoolchildren in Mawkyrwat, including children with special needs, differently abled and youths from an orphanage.Over two hundred school students were involved in a three-day workshop to harness and showcase their creative skills. Besides, school teachers were also trained in skills to impart creative learning among students by using art as a medium. During their stay in Mawkyrwat, the resource art professionals introduced various creative techniques for innovative thinking and creative expression. The importance of natural resources and preservation of the environment have been holistically taught through creative exercises like creating windmills and learning about the ability to harness wind energy to generate pollution-free power.
Saturday’s exhibition also displayed paintings by children from South West Khasi Hills. Local talent Damanbha Hynniewta was felicitated by the Slovak ambassador. “It was a wonderful experience in Mawkyrwat. The landscape was similar to our country. Interacting with children was an interesting part,” said Katya after the inauguration. She informed that in the last one month, she could pick up one local word, “Khublei”.
This year was the third edition of the art residency in Meghalaya. Last year, a similar programme was organised by Picasso Pupils An Art society in Sohra.
The exhibition was hosted by Shillong Public school and supported by State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya, (SEMAM – SSA) in collaboration with Meghalaya Tourism Department and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in New Delhi.
(ST)
