Climate
In a summer that will be long remembered for its climatic impact, the Yorkshire Craft Centre hosted a timely exhibition devoted to artistic interpretations of ‘climate’ from 16th July to 10th August.The Climate exhibition is the first visual arts event commissioned by Kala Sangam.
Rebecca Strain, one of the artists who set up the exhibition, explained: “We have explored the term in its widest form and there is something for everyone. This ranges from photographic, artistic and sculptural images of actual weather, including a video of snow made from paper, to an examination of the social climate where many elderly people are alone and the micro climate that can exist in a different wider culture, such as President Mugabe’s regime.
A large crowd braved the downpours to attend the opening on Friday 13th July. Andy Carver, Executive Director, Yorkshire, for the Arts Council, spoke of “the significance of this fantastic event in Kala Sangam’s long history. It shows that the organisation wants to work with a whole range of art forms. The originality and diversity shown here is a metaphor for cultural diversity. Diversity is really about the art of the people from a massive range of backgrounds; not mono or dual cultural, but subject to a huge range of influences. Kala Sangam demonstrates real diversity in its programme and the way it conducts it business.”
Dr Geetha Upadhyaya, Artistic Director of Kala Sangam, then introduced 2 talented young dancers, Thilakawathy Deivanayagam and Meenakshi Deivanayagam, fresh from their successful dance debut in Sri Lanka. The girls thrilled the audience with a classical South Indian welcome dance, the Bharatmatyam, marking the rhythm with their feet and making geometrical patterns with their hands.
You can see images from their performance here
Dr Geetha and Kala Sangam’s stunning dancers returned to on Wednesday 18th July, to deliver a talk and demonstration on climate in dance.
Exhibition highlights