Unison from diversion

Pranamita Borgohain

Using a fine amalgam of music, dance and vocal art, the performance “Quit from Split” emphasised the importance of ‘oneness’ in this diversified world. Pranamita Borgohain reports.

If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. – John F. Kennedy The world we live in, is full of diversities. From the colour of soil to the language we speak; things change after every mile. It’s true that we can’t end these differences, but, as John F. Kennedy said in the above mentioned quote, we can at least help make the world safe for diversities. Over the years, artists and their art, both have contributed in uniting the world, irrespective of its diversities. We have seen musicians, painters and sportsperson being loved, midst all religious differences. More often than not, art has been the “go-to” medium, when it comes to spreading the message of “unity in diversity.” Aesthetic is a group of creative artists promoting art and culture from 2005. Recently, artists from this group including painters and musicians got together to give a splendid performance(s), that was aimed towards binding the world through a common thread of unity. The event titled Quit from Split was conceptualised by a Delhi-based sculptor from Assam- Harekrishna Talukdar, and painter Jana Bednarova from Slovakia. This event was presented by
a team comprising a music band, a classical dancer and a classical vocalist. This event turned to be a perfect blend for the audience as the performers synced their art in the most immaculate manner. This event was the outcome of the ‘Sangam Creative Art Camp Exhibition’ organized by Aesthetic, a social eco-cultural development society and took place in Shillong over a period of five days in the month of July 2013.

Other than the conceptualizers, the artists from India who were part of this camp were Debanand Ulup, Mrinal Nayak and Shankar Kashyap from Assam, Saheb Dey from Kolkata. The event brought together artists hailing from different parts of the globe. Although, there were many great art pieces by some of the finest artists, “Quit from Split” turned out to be the show-stopper at the Gauhati Artists Guild. The performance started with Talukdar meticulously building a basic structure of house, using ply board for its roof and walls. After this, Bednarova joined in, and they both painted roof and walls of the sculpture, denoting division among people. All this while, the music group comprising Akhilesh Dutta as vocalist, filled the air with their especially composed, and a very meaningful tune, for the event. The performance got even more enthralling when the classical-duo of Rajashree Baruah and Purabi Barauh, joined in to bind the performance giving it a new dimension. The performance was a great sangam of various genres of music, along with a noble message of “unity.” With colorful sculpture on one hand and music on the other; the experience was worth witnessing. It was like sitting beside a river, and reading a book. It was peaceful. But, once the phase of deconstruction started, there was a sense of terror among those sitting in the audience. The house that was built by Talukdar and Bednarova, was split into two. But, as the artists got together to re-construct the house with slogans “we do not split, we want unity,” a sense of optimism and hope was seen in the eyes of the viewers and that was a grandiose finish to the great performances.