Silk River India Launches!

Silk River India Launches!

On December 1, 2017, Posted by admin , With Comments Off

Silk River India Launches!

Download the Press Release here: Silk River India Press Release @1Dec

Download press pack images HERE.

A Journey of surprises along the Hooghly to celebrate a major bilateral year of cultural exchange between the UK and India

#SilkRiver

About Silk River

Silk River is an ambitious project which explores the unique relationship between London and Kolkata through artistic exchange between communities along the Thames Estuary and India’s Hooghly River. Kinetika’s Artistic Director Ali Pretty, with associate Artistic Directors Korak Ghosh and Ruchira Das (Think Arts, India) and an international team of artists, writers and photographers, will capture and interpret the experience of journeying along these two mighty rivers.

Working in 20 locations from Murshidabad to Batanagar (Hooghly) and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew to Southend (Thames) to reinterpret a shared heritage, Kinetika’s Silk River raises cultural awareness of the Indo-British relationship through engaging diaspora communities who live alongside both rivers.

Silk River culminated along the Thames between 15-24 Sept UK Walks: http://www.silkriver.co.uk/UK-walks/ and the Silk River India walk takes place along the Hooghly 6-16 Dec 2017.

The stories of the 20 locations will be revealed to local, national and international audiences through the showing of 20 giant hand-painted Bengali silk scrolls and accompanying performances.

Silk River India Walk

In December 2017, a twelve-day performative walk will take place alongside the river Hooghly, India, from from Azimganj, Murshidabad to Batanagar, Kolkata. On boat and by foot, participants will engage with contemporary artists, historians, writers and musicians, and participate in curated events comprising of talks, workshops and film screenings. More details about the India walk can be found here: http://www.silkriver.co.uk/india-walks/

Kevin Rushby, an eminent travel journalist for The Guardian will join the walk and write a daily blog – see his posts from the Silk River UK walk here: http://www.silkriver.co.uk/latest-news-blog/

The Silk River India Walk will begin on 6^th Dec 2017, jointly with the Murshidabad Heritage Festival at the historic location of Azimganj. The next two days will see an international community gathering together to discover and explore the rich heritage of the region through walks, seminars and cultural programmes.

The journey from 8^th to 10^th Dec will be an opportunity for artistic exchange using Silk River as a case study. The salon on 8th will be led by Ali Pretty, artistic director Silk River and independent cultural producer Elizabeth Lynch and Korak Ghosh, artistic director Silk River India and Ruchira Das Silk River India project director. Indian artists are invited to this exchange with 15 visiting artists from the UK, as they travel from Krishnanagar to Chandannagar.

Silk River will culminate on the 16^th Dec 2017, with a closing event in association with the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, where the scrolls will be exhibited and a mela with entertainment provided by Banglanatak.com. There will be an exhibition of the 20 scrolls in the Central Hall of Victoria Memorial Hall from 19 Dec.

Silk River in India has been brought together by Kinetika, UK and partners in India – ThinkArts, Murshidabad Heritage Development Society, Rural Crafts Hubs of West Bengal, Crafts Council of India West Bengal, Jungle Crows, West Bengal Tourism, Future Hope. It is supported by Arts Council England and British Council.

Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director British Council East and Northeast India said: “Silk River has threaded communities and craftsmanship along the rivers Hooghly and the Thames, creating curiosity about the rivers, the people and their culture – achieving exactly what the Year of Culture between UK and India sets out to do. The project connects, inspires and celebrates the two countries in a unique way and I am certain the India Walks in December will be remembered as a milestone in the city’s cultural calendar.”

Ali Pretty, Kinetika’s Artistic Director said: “It was my first visit to India in 1984 that inspired me to work in the arts, using them as a tool for social change and community development. Silk River builds on my experience over the last 30 years, bringing together communities from the UK and India for a meaningful exchange of stories and ideas. By sharing and celebrating the similar histories and narratives between the River Thames and India’s Hooghly River, the Silk River Project encourages the celebration of rich local history, and engages communities to take part in re-imagining the river.”

Korak Ghosh, Silk River India Walk Director said “Silk River is to me ‘a tale’ of two cities. Many set aside a particular time every year to remember their mutual interdependence with their river. London, among other festivities has a month-long celebration with Totally Thames. I want the same for Kolkata, and my involvement with this unique event, Silk River, gives me an opportunity to remember our Hooghly. We are sure that this will go a long way in making people conscious of the river, its importance and its heritage. Hopefully, it will also help us all to reinterpret and understand why we need to preserve this special bond.”

Ruchira Das, Artistic Director, ThinkArts said “Silk River has provided all of us at ThinkArts, an opportunity to engage with children, work with artists, and discover stories of our heritage – each of these being elements of our core philosophy. We have particularly enjoyed working with school students along the river. Silk River has enabled them to rediscover their own town, heritage, culture and their connection to the river, they are eager to share their responses with people during the walk in December.”

Silk River Walk India take place between 6-16 December 2017: India Walks: http://www.silkriver.co.uk/india-walks/

Website:

Silk River website: silkriver.co.uk

Social Media: #SilkRiver

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silkriverkinetika/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SilkRiver2017

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinetikapeople

About Kinetika

Kinetika is an internationally renowned company with an 18-year track record of combining world-class design with community projects to produce spectacular outdoor events that engage diverse audiences wherever they work. Founded by artist Ali Pretty in 1997, and inspired by her training in carnival arts in Trinidad and India, Kinetika now has an unrivalled reputation for working with local communities on projects that change the way people feel about where they live. From local community events in shopping centres, ceremonial boulevards and local high streets, to the Great Wall of China and the heart of Kolkata. The charitable arm, Kinetika People, is known for its high quality community engagement work, running participatory programmes, workshops and artist training schemes, which aim to nurture new artistic talent and engage communities, raising aspirations and building a sense of place. The commercial arm, Kinetika Design Studio, has been commissioned to create work for ceremonies at high profile events including FIFA World Cup 2009, the London Paralympic games/Team GB Parade in 2012 and the European Games 2015.

About UK/India 2017

UK/India2017 is a year-long celebration of the long-standing relationship between India and the UK, which will see a vast programme of cultural exchange and activity take place in cities across both countries.

Silk River is part of the UK/India 2017 programme. Working with a huge number of partners and institutions, the British Council is developing a programme of cultural activity which will connect and inspire people in both countries; and strengthen and celebrate the UK and India’s cultural ties. For more information on UK/India 2017 please visit www.britishcouncil.in

Comments are closed.