Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Feedback
The following are a selection of comments left in the comments book about the exhibition 'Layers & Threads':
Very good compositions, sharp images and a brilliant outcome
Excellent work by up and coming artists
Really impressive display of an increible range of artists
Excellent effort by all the contributors. I have felt at home at least for a few minutes. We want to see more of these exhibitions (Cllr Norbury Ward)
A fantastic event, should be advertised better. It has evoked for me the sense of culture & identity which I am proud of. Congratulations and well done to ALL concerned. I will look forward to future notices of your forthcoming plans (Cllr Bensham Manor Ward)
It's a wonderful event, well organised and skillfully put together
It is fascinating and brilliant
Very well put presentation of asian roots and new asian work
Very good layout with interesting images and concepts
Absolutely brilliant. Things like this make you keep the faith with Croydon
Nadia's photos are stunning, beautiful & dramatic. I hope she has a great career
Inspiring. Love idea behind exhibition until I got to female soft porn. Should I be looking at her breast or her face?
Interesting & imaginative to see asian cultural art from young british artists. Would love the opportunity to do something similar
Brilliant work - I love your meditation place. I could come here everyday!
The work was brilliant and very inspirational. I loved seeing different asian cultures all within one roof
I really love all the pictures especially the paint wall
Superb excellent amazing you are awesome totally inspiring work shame about the mounting but your work is ace
liberating, thoughtful and fun desi style. well done
very tasteful and elegant (proud to be an asian woman). My daughter loved it
Very vibrant, visually and creatively. I love visiting this exhibition - very therapeutic and gives me lots of inspiration. Thank you!
Good (must have taken ages to make)
Infectious beat!
Overall, a good exhibition. It would be nice to have more info about the sound of the drum
lovely experience
This is a beautiful portrayal of what is amazing about cultures across the globe. Thank you (ps. I would love to meet Bula Agbo, the artist whose words and art touched me)
What a splash of beautiful culture!
I really enjoy the environment. I suggest one very important factor which is missing, the social awareness specially in Croydon of the greatness, wonderful religion ISLAM
I like the ambiance provided in this quiet corner of Croydon library and it made me think and feel tranquil. Excellent presentation
I liked the paint explosion picture it looks like a massive firework!
So interesting and varied and illuminating
Fantastic photographs showing the diversity and beauty of Asian women
Great. I wish all the writing was available in leaflet form and pictures
Just a word of appreciation to say 'wonderful'! Especially impressed by photo prints of Nadia Mussani - to say she is 'Kenyan Asian' is meaningless as to deny her roots of Indian sub continent
Enlightening to see a natural and accessible presentation into a small window of asian life
It's terrible they (the younger folk) do not know about the poems, plays etc of R.Tagore
I am 18 "i.e. younger folk" and I know about the plays of R.Tagore. Don't judge everyone!
Pretty exciting exhibition, like a bouquet of flowers, neatly arranged, beaming out the diversity of their colours and fragrance. Keep us the good job!
I particularly enjoyed the work of Nasreen Memon. I like the concept of creating a sacred space within a sacred space - an art gallery. But somehow your sacred space is welcoming and loving whereas art galleries can be so cruel, unwelcoming and almost clinical. I thought that having the sounds of the family also brought a new energy into the art space, and the drumming reminds me of my body, like my breathing and heartbeat. Visually decorative and colourful, this exhibition captures the essence and diversity of asian culture. I think it's great that different cultures can share something of themselves with others and this is a true celebration
Layers & Threads Exhibition
Entrance
Wide view of entrance
Work by Nadia Mussani
Work by Uz Afzal (Left), Bula Agbo (right)
Right wall
Work by Jigna Chandaria
Comments book
Work by Shiroma Ratne
Work by Shiroma Ratne
Work by Shiroma Ratne (detail)
2 works by Rabindranath Tagore
Video/text based piece by Tania Rahman
Work by K G Subramanyan
Work by Nasreen Memon
Work by Nasreen Memon
Work by Shameem Sanoon
Bengali Folk Art sculptures
Work in progress
Wall painting
Wall painting
Wall drawings by Bula Agbo
Wide view of entrance
Work by Nadia Mussani
Work by Uz Afzal (Left), Bula Agbo (right)
Right wall
Work by Jigna Chandaria
Comments book
Work by Shiroma Ratne
Work by Shiroma Ratne
Work by Shiroma Ratne (detail)
2 works by Rabindranath Tagore
Video/text based piece by Tania Rahman
Work by K G Subramanyan
Work by Nasreen Memon
Work by Nasreen Memon
Work by Shameem Sanoon
Bengali Folk Art sculptures
Work in progress
Wall painting
Wall painting
Wall drawings by Bula Agbo
Monday, February 19, 2007
Layers & Threads
Here is the latest update on where we’re at with the South Asian Ambassador Exhibition.
The exhibition officially opens on Thursday 5 April. We will also hold the Private view on that evening.
Please whatever you do, even if you are not exhibiting any work, do make yourself available for the private view.
On April 3 and April 4 we will be getting the work into the gallery and there might be a possibility of a group workshop (to create a display on the walls) on either or both of these days – so again, please keep them free if you can!
The date for submissions of work is Monday 12. So far we know that Jigna, Tania, Nasreen and Nadia are definitely creating works for the exhibition. Please contact me and Bula as soon as possible with your brief, outlining the plan for your work and the medium you will be using.
Akber, Pritti, Nihar, Berni and Moksha - it would be superb if you would also like to contribute some work – if you would like to add ideas or develop an idea with myself, Bula or any of the other ambassadors just shout! Remember, it is your exhibition so now is the chance!
The official title of the exhibition will be Layers & Threads and this is intended as something of a metaphor for describing the complexity of local South Asian culture, in terms of ‘layers’ of influences (i.e. both western and eastern) and ‘threads’ of culture that remain constant despite change.
A very short listing (due to a new style brochure) will appear in April’s Clocktower brochure.
We have permission to display the 2 original works by Tagore (we will get special insurance for the exhibition in this case and there will be some restrictions in terms of lighting levels in the gallery). This will mean that the exhibition instantly has appeal to people that know his work and it might be an idea to think about how we might involve the Bangladeshi community in this exhibition? Could we invite a group of Bangladeshi’s of all different age groups to an art workshop where they create something for the exhibition in response to the 2 works by Tagore?
Worried that there won’t be enough submissions, but also as a means of drumming up more interest and making new contacts, I have sent an advert to the local press looking for interested people. On Wednesday and Friday this week it will appear in the Croydon Post and The Croydon Advertiser respectively. This advert is attached to the email if you want a look.
Please send your brief as soon as possible to me and Bula who is curating the exhibition (her email address is pepperton1@yahoo.co.uk).
The exhibition officially opens on Thursday 5 April. We will also hold the Private view on that evening.
Please whatever you do, even if you are not exhibiting any work, do make yourself available for the private view.
On April 3 and April 4 we will be getting the work into the gallery and there might be a possibility of a group workshop (to create a display on the walls) on either or both of these days – so again, please keep them free if you can!
The date for submissions of work is Monday 12. So far we know that Jigna, Tania, Nasreen and Nadia are definitely creating works for the exhibition. Please contact me and Bula as soon as possible with your brief, outlining the plan for your work and the medium you will be using.
Akber, Pritti, Nihar, Berni and Moksha - it would be superb if you would also like to contribute some work – if you would like to add ideas or develop an idea with myself, Bula or any of the other ambassadors just shout! Remember, it is your exhibition so now is the chance!
The official title of the exhibition will be Layers & Threads and this is intended as something of a metaphor for describing the complexity of local South Asian culture, in terms of ‘layers’ of influences (i.e. both western and eastern) and ‘threads’ of culture that remain constant despite change.
A very short listing (due to a new style brochure) will appear in April’s Clocktower brochure.
We have permission to display the 2 original works by Tagore (we will get special insurance for the exhibition in this case and there will be some restrictions in terms of lighting levels in the gallery). This will mean that the exhibition instantly has appeal to people that know his work and it might be an idea to think about how we might involve the Bangladeshi community in this exhibition? Could we invite a group of Bangladeshi’s of all different age groups to an art workshop where they create something for the exhibition in response to the 2 works by Tagore?
Worried that there won’t be enough submissions, but also as a means of drumming up more interest and making new contacts, I have sent an advert to the local press looking for interested people. On Wednesday and Friday this week it will appear in the Croydon Post and The Croydon Advertiser respectively. This advert is attached to the email if you want a look.
Please send your brief as soon as possible to me and Bula who is curating the exhibition (her email address is pepperton1@yahoo.co.uk).
Thursday, January 04, 2007
2007
Happy New Year to you all!
As you may have noticed the blogger seems to have changed! I needed to update my account and I expect you will to, in order to post anything! Please do it.
Firstly, great news! Funding for SATTC (South Asian Touring Theatre Consortium) has been granted for the next 3 years....it hopefully means there will be more great South Asian theatre and opportunities for us to work more closely with some of the companies involved...more about this later!
Other than supporting the work of these companies when they come to the Clocktower, our other aim for the year is to raise our profiles as ambassadors of the Clocktower. I hope we can begin to do this by creating an interesting exhibition of artwork based around the current (abstract) theme of 'layers' and ideas about our community. It is planned that there will be a short series of artistic workshops led by local South Asian artists where we'll share, develop and create our own individual or group works (from photography or poetry to painting and sculpture). Please begin to think of ideas for work inspired by and hopefully reflecting our local community and fitting in with the theme or idea of 'layers'. The first workshop will be in decoupage (or the art of layering photographs with materials) and will take place in late January/early February.
The next bit of news is sad. Jonathan Kennedy is leaving the Clocktower at the end of the month, to become chief executive of Tara Arts (Ironically, one of the most established and successful of the South Asian Touring Theatre Companies). He was one of the founders of SATTC and will still be involved with the consortium at Tara Arts (so we won't lose touch).
The date of the next meeting will be Wednesday 17th at 6:30pm in the Workshops. At 8pm we can see the performance together, Memoirs de la Nuit, if you can stay. Look forward to seeing you soon.
As you may have noticed the blogger seems to have changed! I needed to update my account and I expect you will to, in order to post anything! Please do it.
Firstly, great news! Funding for SATTC (South Asian Touring Theatre Consortium) has been granted for the next 3 years....it hopefully means there will be more great South Asian theatre and opportunities for us to work more closely with some of the companies involved...more about this later!
Other than supporting the work of these companies when they come to the Clocktower, our other aim for the year is to raise our profiles as ambassadors of the Clocktower. I hope we can begin to do this by creating an interesting exhibition of artwork based around the current (abstract) theme of 'layers' and ideas about our community. It is planned that there will be a short series of artistic workshops led by local South Asian artists where we'll share, develop and create our own individual or group works (from photography or poetry to painting and sculpture). Please begin to think of ideas for work inspired by and hopefully reflecting our local community and fitting in with the theme or idea of 'layers'. The first workshop will be in decoupage (or the art of layering photographs with materials) and will take place in late January/early February.
The next bit of news is sad. Jonathan Kennedy is leaving the Clocktower at the end of the month, to become chief executive of Tara Arts (Ironically, one of the most established and successful of the South Asian Touring Theatre Companies). He was one of the founders of SATTC and will still be involved with the consortium at Tara Arts (so we won't lose touch).
The date of the next meeting will be Wednesday 17th at 6:30pm in the Workshops. At 8pm we can see the performance together, Memoirs de la Nuit, if you can stay. Look forward to seeing you soon.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
NOVEMBER 10th (Meeting)
Friday's meeting was almost a washout! First the show (Darwaza Khula Hai) was cancelled and then only 3 Ambassadors turned up. However, on reflection it wasn't such a bad thing and it forced us to get real about the exhibition's timescale. We decided that there's no way we could turn round a fantastic exhibition in Space C by early February + create all the publicity! It also makes sense to time an exhibition created by the SAAmbassadors around the public live event in May 07. Hence, I took our reflections to Jonathan Kennedy who will change the dates accordingly (tba).
At Friday's meeting were Nadia, Moksha, Nasreen and myself. We concentrated on finding a theme for our exhibition - and although we didn't come up with anything solid and conclusive, we did agree that the exhibition should reflect South Asian diversity and be a celebration of culture in Croydon. Nadia spoke about her work as an artist and described the wonderful techniques she uses to create 'layered' photographs that use all kinds of materials to convey particular expressions or moods (these are often produced as gifts). From this we were inspired by the idea of inviting local South Asian artists to portray Croydon's SA community.
Some ideas for who the artists might be at this stage include, Sohail Anjum (photographer), Parminder Sekon (photpgrapher/actress) and of course yourselves, the Ambassadors! This will involve some research and decision as to who we might approach. We decided to meet again on Tuesday 28th November at 6pm to advance our plans further and then we can also stay on and see Too Close To Home together.
Since the meeting.......
Nasreen has been thinking about the concept for the exhibition and the word that came to mind was layers. rather than rip off one person's specific idea of layering a photo, she likes the idea of taking the term and applying it to differnt mediums. She likes the idea of making a short film that would use the notion of layers. She has also been talking to a few SA artists to see who might be interested in contributing......
At Friday's meeting were Nadia, Moksha, Nasreen and myself. We concentrated on finding a theme for our exhibition - and although we didn't come up with anything solid and conclusive, we did agree that the exhibition should reflect South Asian diversity and be a celebration of culture in Croydon. Nadia spoke about her work as an artist and described the wonderful techniques she uses to create 'layered' photographs that use all kinds of materials to convey particular expressions or moods (these are often produced as gifts). From this we were inspired by the idea of inviting local South Asian artists to portray Croydon's SA community.
Some ideas for who the artists might be at this stage include, Sohail Anjum (photographer), Parminder Sekon (photpgrapher/actress) and of course yourselves, the Ambassadors! This will involve some research and decision as to who we might approach. We decided to meet again on Tuesday 28th November at 6pm to advance our plans further and then we can also stay on and see Too Close To Home together.
Since the meeting.......
Nasreen has been thinking about the concept for the exhibition and the word that came to mind was layers. rather than rip off one person's specific idea of layering a photo, she likes the idea of taking the term and applying it to differnt mediums. She likes the idea of making a short film that would use the notion of layers. She has also been talking to a few SA artists to see who might be interested in contributing......
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Last night's meeting (16/10/06)
Last night we began planning a South Asian Ambassador Project.
The project will include:
The project will include:
- An 8 week exhibition in Space C from Feb 2nd - 30th March 2007
- A one off live event in the Theatre on Saturday 19th May 2007
The reason behind the project is twofold, to engage new audiences and develop ambassadors own arts practice. Ultimately, it is your project, so creative decisions should come down to you and the team! These include......ideas for exhibition and event content, which arts organisations and companies we invite to perform and which responsibilities you personally want to shoulder.
Here are our notes from last night's meeting (which we might call our first official project meeting!):
Aims:
- To create an Ambassador exhibition in Space C (theme & ideas to be discussed)
- To hold a one off live event in theatre (either a whole day or 2/3 hours)
Objectives:
- Develop ambassadors own skills and knowledge (particularly in a specific area of arts practice that they would like to focus on for this project)
- Develop closer ties to local arts organisations, companies and groups
- Celebrate rich diversity of arts practiced by S.Asian local community
- Bring S.Asian arts groups and organisations together to share and experience work
- Provide a public performance opportunity for local groups wanting to showcase what they do
- Promote the work of the Clocktower to new audiences and develop the interest of the existing audience
- (feel free to add any others)
Agenda items (Space C):
- Photography
- Caricatures
- Pottery & sculpture
- live drama/spoken word
- (It would be good to put the exhibition into context. I wondered if we couldn't unite everyone's work around a single theme, image or idea for instance? Could we create an installation to house each individual work? Could this be an exhibition based on your own aspirations for instance? Could you set yourselves your own artistic challenge and combine this with something you want to say? This is open for discussion)
Agenda items (Live event):
- Dance
- Music
- Drama
- Comedy
- Magic
- Massage
- Yoga
- Mehendi
Programme options for one-off live event on 19th May:
- Whole day event (where audience are free to come and go)
- 2-3 hour event with an interval or two
Please keep blogging your thoughts, ideas and suggestions............
Monday, October 09, 2006
Next Meeting!
Is everyone coming to the next Ambassador Meeting on Monday 16th October 6:30pm – 8pm Workshop 1?
If you’re staying to see The Trouble with Asian Men afterwards at 8pm – just to warn you it’s doing well and there are only about 50 tickets left – so do grab your free ticket before they all go!
The Tuesday performance has 8 tickets left, so if you can urge anyone to see it please recommend them the Monday night! And don’t forget to tell them about the 2 for 1 special offer with the postcards (available in the Clocktower).
Look forward to seeing everyone! Please bring your usual enthusiasm and we’re gonna have a round table (well actually, it’s a square table) discussion about our ideas for a South Asian Ambassador event (or exhibition) in 2007. So come armed with ideas and comment!
If you’re staying to see The Trouble with Asian Men afterwards at 8pm – just to warn you it’s doing well and there are only about 50 tickets left – so do grab your free ticket before they all go!
The Tuesday performance has 8 tickets left, so if you can urge anyone to see it please recommend them the Monday night! And don’t forget to tell them about the 2 for 1 special offer with the postcards (available in the Clocktower).
Look forward to seeing everyone! Please bring your usual enthusiasm and we’re gonna have a round table (well actually, it’s a square table) discussion about our ideas for a South Asian Ambassador event (or exhibition) in 2007. So come armed with ideas and comment!
Monday, September 25, 2006
The Trouble With Asian Men
Hi everyone.
Minutes from the last Ambassador meeting on Friday 15th September:
Minutes from the last Ambassador meeting on Friday 15th September:
- Private tour round the brand spanking new Museum of Croydon
- We talked about the possibility of a South Asian Ambassador' Exhibition in 2007
- Looked at the upcoming shows and in particular, The Trouble With Asian Men and Too Close to Home
We then ran out of time! But went to see The Specialists in the theatre....which was weird and personally speaking, a good laugh. What did you lot think??? The blog is a perfect place to stick a review up!
So the next meeting is on Monday 16th October in Workshop 1 from 6:30-8:00pm. Come armed with some suggestions and ideas for an exhibition of your own - that might be about what the South Asian Ambassadors do (i.e. write reviews, take photographs of shows, organise events like the stall at the Mela, design flyers etc etc) or based around another theme altogether.....!
If you have ideas or comments you want to convey sooner than next meeting - just blo 'em here or email me.
Oh and gooooood luck Berni (say, I do!!!!)
The Trouble with Asian Men
(review from The Stage, Sep 06)
That researchers rather than writers are credited with this interesting short piece is due to the fact that the verbatim technique is employed, in which actors perform exactly what they hear through their earphones - interviews recorded on minidisc by researchers - and reproduced by the actors.
It is a style well suited to the subject matter and admirably played by the actors, though Jo Harper, standing in for Louise Wallinger, who actually introduced the technique to the company, has a small voice even for an intimate space such as the Arts Depot’s studio.
The episodes related by the actors are quite fascinating, covering attitudes from all sides, parents, children and outsiders such as the English girl who has married an Asian man. And what is remarkable are the similarities with the attitudes of earlier immigrants, for instance the Jews.
Like them, Asians usually have a strong family structure, with traditionally minded parents at some odds with their offspring, the former anxious to maintain the traditional lifestyle, including arranged marriages, the latter eager to sample the more free delights of British life.
Though tensions inevitably arise, there is a general air of good humour, an acceptance that these people are ready and able to take advantage of the opportunities to improve their lot, even if the men find it difficult to give up some of their privileges.
It certainly owes a good deal to the actors, who respond eagerly to the unusual mechanism of the piece, with Ajay Chhabra, Divian Ladwa and Sonia Likhari illustrating a wide variety of relationships and making it evident that the majority of Asians will succeed because of their energy, while retaining their own identity.
(review from The Stage, Sep 06)
That researchers rather than writers are credited with this interesting short piece is due to the fact that the verbatim technique is employed, in which actors perform exactly what they hear through their earphones - interviews recorded on minidisc by researchers - and reproduced by the actors.
It is a style well suited to the subject matter and admirably played by the actors, though Jo Harper, standing in for Louise Wallinger, who actually introduced the technique to the company, has a small voice even for an intimate space such as the Arts Depot’s studio.
The episodes related by the actors are quite fascinating, covering attitudes from all sides, parents, children and outsiders such as the English girl who has married an Asian man. And what is remarkable are the similarities with the attitudes of earlier immigrants, for instance the Jews.
Like them, Asians usually have a strong family structure, with traditionally minded parents at some odds with their offspring, the former anxious to maintain the traditional lifestyle, including arranged marriages, the latter eager to sample the more free delights of British life.
Though tensions inevitably arise, there is a general air of good humour, an acceptance that these people are ready and able to take advantage of the opportunities to improve their lot, even if the men find it difficult to give up some of their privileges.
It certainly owes a good deal to the actors, who respond eagerly to the unusual mechanism of the piece, with Ajay Chhabra, Divian Ladwa and Sonia Likhari illustrating a wide variety of relationships and making it evident that the majority of Asians will succeed because of their energy, while retaining their own identity.
