Transformation is a very exciting
thought, and is probably a common way to describe what an Artist wants to do in
a community. I wouldn’t say we
transformed much in those 3 days, but we definitely started some stories.
This
community was relocated from a downtown slum.
The slum was convenient, crowded, lively, full of character, familiar
and unhygienic. This new housing
collective is remote, clean, removed and impersonal.
Looking
at photographs of bare walls and hallways, I immediately thought of transforming
the housing block with mural painting.
But to facilitate a community mural painting project not only requires
time and resource, but most importantly sufficient planning and
negotiation. So it was eventually
limited to the wall of 1 classroom.
During
our 3 days there, there were other visiting groups who photographed and handed
out candies, and they attracted much attention from the residents. Not to debate others’ actions, we took
advantage of this outsider status to achieve our goals.
Day 1
Day
1 was our training for kindergarten teachers and Helpers. Looking at the poorly lit and ventilated
kindergarten room, I quickly asked if we could hold the training in the
hallway; not a lot of trouble for the organizer, but just out of the ordinary
and warnings of probable interruptions from passers-by. And sure enough, before the morning was over,
the number of children surrounding us was so plentiful that we decided to hold
an “on-the-job” training for the afternoon.
In
the afternoon, unsatisfied with drawing on large pieces of paper, we requested
to draw with chalk on the large outdoor walls.
After some string-pulling, it was again granted, and from that point on,
the children programme became mostly outdoor, and our songs, games and parades
began to focus the usually uncoordinated daily lives of the community. The potential of this open area as a
gathering point also became apparent.
Day 2
The
children enjoyed Day 2 much like the first, but an opportunity aroused on Day 2
that involved the their mothers and sisters as well. During their lunch break between morning and
after embroidery activities, most ladies set on stairways and aisles as usual, idling,
chatting and watching their children play.
Having seen the children danced and paraded in the open area, Evelyna
(team leader) took this chance to get the ladies to dance there as well. Drumming introduction began, followed by
Evelyna’s dance, then her invitation for us and some young local Helpers to
join, while she slowly used her dance to pose friendly challenges and taunts to
surrounding ladies, who by this time were inching closer to the circle.
Thinking
back, I remember amusement in the locals’ eyes, that our dance and music was
un-traditional and strange; but there was also a hint of aspiration to be able
to let go and have unburden fun.
Finally, senior looking lady responded to Evelyna’s challenge, and as if
that was a cue of trust, other married ladies soon joined. Apparently social codes regarding dancing and
photography by unmarried women in the presence of male are still common in many
Indian communities; nevertheless, it was great to see the mothers having a good
time dancing together.
Reflection and Analysis
The
remoteness of this new housing block has posed new challenges and opportunities
for this community. Working men (some
women) and children have to walk nearly 30 minutes of dirt road before they can
navigate the local transit system to work and school, which is congested
throughout the day. Home-bounded women
and children are stranded with no nearby market, relatives or park. After and before their daily house chore and
meals, there is very little to do at home but to see if the next incoming truck
might bring food, water or sight-seeing visitors.
Organizing
the children’s free time into learning and group activities to nurture
friendship, joy and a healthy upbringing was our local partner’s first step. While embroidery group would be a nature
attraction for the ladies, which builds support networks with the possible
outcome of long-term income generation.
However, it was equally important to provide dancing activities that
exercise the women’s body in energetic gracefulness, in an activity that is not
calculated to be productive, but strictly for fun.
Physical
presence and use are ways of defining physical ownership. The
kindergarten in operation already uses this open area for daily anthems and
school events, and the children also claim the open area as their playground. The ladies, in charge of household during
most of day light hours, should extend this ownership onto the entire housing
block as their community, the open space is not just as a driveway or their
children’s playground, but also their open area.
This was a recently relocated
community struggling to survive in a new environment. For those 3 days, we as visiting artists
facilitated programmes that welcomed participation, and showed the people that
they are the owner this new housing block.
Perhaps such communal ownership would never enter into any written
contract, but it has actualized the moment that senior lady took the lead into
the dance circle.
No comments:
Post a Comment