How the Ramayana has served as a cultural and diplomatic bridge amongst Southeast Asian international locations

The Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) international locations and India share widespread cultural and civilisational linkages that return a really very long time. A number of similarities might be discovered of their literature, structure and spiritual texts in addition to people practices. The Ramayana is an epic that has been a connecting issue amongst Southeast Asian international locations, and has impacted their artwork types in a number of methods.

It’s with this in thoughts that the third version of the ASEAN-India Artists’ Camp returns for a 10-day residency in Shillong from March 29 to April 7. The theme of the competition is ‘Echoes of Ramayana: Inventive Journeys throughout ASEAN and India’. It brings collectively 21 well-known and upcoming people and up to date visible artists from 10 ASEAN member states, together with Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Cambodia, one artist from Timor Leste as an observer nation, and 10 artists from India. The artists will showcase their interpretation of the Ramayana via work.

Organised by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs in collaboration with SEHER, the camp marks 10 years of India’s Act East Coverage, utilizing artwork as a medium for cultural dialogue. “The Ramayana isn’t just a non secular epic, however a cultural one as effectively. We wish to know the echoes and the resonance that the textual content has within the ASEAN area,” stated Sanjeev Bhargava, founder-director of SEHER.

Throughout the camp, the artists will discuss varied types of portray guided by mentors of the camp — Samindranath Majumdar, Tanmoy Samanta and Yogendra Tripathi. Every artist will create one murals, representing totally different types — trendy, conventional and impressionist — whereas nonetheless carrying the essence of their very own tradition and historical past.

Cheriyal scroll portray artist Vinay Kumar feels the camp affords him an excellent alternative to showcase his understanding of the epic. For Thai professor Panich Phupratana, that is his maiden go to to India. His work focusses on Hanuman as a robust and clever warrior serving Rama. “I’ve seen Hanuman portrayed each in Indian movies and in Thai conventional artwork. So, I made a decision to match these two variations to point out that Thai beliefs and faith share the identical origins as these in India,” he shared.

Thai professor Panich Phupratana.

Rising up in Malaysia, Moahana Kumara Velu was uncovered to the Ramayana via Wayang Kulit, a standard shadow puppet theatre, and different native performances. Although visually totally different from Indian depictions, the essence stays acquainted for her. “The Ramayana theme affords a robust area for reflection and reinterpretation, and I’m particularly drawn to the story of Sita. Her energy, quiet resilience and beauty resonate deeply with me. Whereas this can be my first work impressed by the Ramayana, I see it as a significant alternative to discover its emotional and cultural layers via my very own lens,” she stated.

The taking part artists may even participate in workshops on classical dance, music and handicraft, and discover India’s inventive traditions in a collaborative setting. They may even maintain interactive classes with artwork college students in Shillong and conduct a workshop at an area faculty, the place they’ll share their expertise and experiences with younger learners.

A few of the different Indian artists within the camp embody the multi-disciplinary artist Mrudula Kunatharaju, practical figurative artist Mousumi Biswas, Gond artist Japani Shyam Dhurwey, practical up to date nature and wildlife artist Kazi Nasir, Phad artist Prakash Joshi, Kali Ghat artist Bappa Chitrakar and acrylic artist Raphael Warjri.

First conceptualized in 2017, AIAC has emerged as a key platform for cultural engagement between India and Southeast Asia. Not like conventional diplomatic gatherings, it affords a extra intimate setting, the place artists from totally different areas, tucked away collectively, spend days exchanging strategies, experiences and views.

The artworks created through the camp will first be unveiled in New Delhi in a two-day showcase earlier than making their strategy to Malaysia, the ASEAN Chair for 2025, for a week-long exhibition.

“Artwork is a robust bridge – it opens area for dialogue, connection and shared understanding. When artists from totally different international locations come collectively, there’s a pure change of tradition and perspective. These friendships and collaborations strengthen ties, making cultural change a quiet but highly effective type of diplomacy,” stated Moahana Kumara Velu.