This week saw the launch of the Gods and Demons exhibition, introducing the beautifully powerful heritage arts and crafts of West Bengal to the dynamic city of London. A project made possible by the West Bengal government initiative Biswa Bangla and the Rural Craft and Culture Hubs, in collaboration with the Nehru Centre, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in London, where the exhibition was held. Gods and Demons garnered attraction from people all over London; people looking for an introduction to these unique art forms as well as those who from Bengal, were looking for a little piece of home.
The exhibition was launched by a cultural night of performances and talks. The event drew attraction amongst prominent individuals from the British Indians community, as well as a mix of international craft patrons and a diverse audience of influential figures in the art world; all of whom enjoyed admiring the wonderful works as they were immersed in the arts and crafts of Bengal. John Bell, former chairmen of the British Guild of Travel Writers and a consultant for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, delivered a superb key note speech. John started his career with the BBC in London, producing and reporting for its travel and transport programmes on radio and television. Having visited the artisans in the villages in February earlier this year and experienced the work that Biswa Bangla are doing first hand, it was great to see someone so integral to the world of writing, enthusiastic and on board with the work that Biswa Bangla is doing,
Bell’s words resonate with the heart of the purpose of the initiative; “The work is not just a question of design, its jobs and poverty […] this beautiful art is not just beautiful art, its beautiful art for good […] the more we trade, the more we work, the more work we give to our friends (Shankar Das and Suman Chitraker) here, the more we are doing for the people of West Bengal and doing good for ourselves.”
The initial buzz of the opening reception continued on through the guided tours during the course of the exhibition. Individuals from art galleries, the press and online cultural magazines as well as craft enthusiasts and young families all enjoyed learning more about the remarkably individual pieces that adorned the walls of the Nehru centre. Throughout the week the presence of two artisans have enriched the atmosphere of the exhibition. Over the week it has been wonderful to watch Shankar Das transform a single block of wood into a beautifully formed depiction of the Goddess Durga. Suman Chitrakar has been magnificent in performing his traditional songs for those lucky enough to see his work.
Thursday took the magic of the arts and crafts to just one of the cultural hubs of London, the Southbank. The artisans were photographed against the backdrop of the Southbank Centre and The National Theatre, as they carved and painted, the cultural connections between the UK and India were really brought out. Biswa Bangla believes that there is a keen appreciation for Bengal arts and crafts in the modern global community and the collaboration between London and West Bengal can really help make a difference for the lives of artisans, just like Suman Chitrakar and Shankar Das.
The essence of Biswa Bangla is summed up perfectly by Neishaa Gharat, ambassador for Biswa Bangla in the UK; “As a designer, I am passionate about the future of ‘making’ in a globalised world. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the potential of collaborating traditional skills with modern perception, and cross cultural engagement. My role at Biswa Bangla is this fascinating journey of discovery and reinterpretation of traditional craft skills by engaging with both designers and enthusiasts.”
As Gods and Demons comes to a close after a fantastic week in London, Biswa Bangla is excited about taking the exhibition further afield. A collection like this has not been seen before in Scotland and we are thrilled to be introducing the unique, and quite beautiful work, of West Bengal to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh Museum, is home to spectacular collections of decorative art, where we will be sharing the arts and crafts through live demonstrations and workshops. We will then continue on to Glasgow, and are fortunate enough to be a part of the opening weekend of the Southside Fringe Festival in Glasgow, hosted by ArtVillage.
MSME and textiles secretary, Mr Rajiva Sinha puts it quite simply, “The Biswa Bangla tagline ‘Where the world meets Bengal' says it all. The most exciting parts of the events are the live shows by artisans Suman Chitrakar and Shankar Das.” Biswa Bangla are rising to their tagline, where the world meets Bengal, sharing and promoting the rich cultural heritage of their state throughout the world.
