Strong Indian influence at CWAE event

Indian artistes, in collaboration with local talent, make the CWAE event a memorable one

Iwas_ a m e m ora bl e eve~ng tor VlSJ rors to the Canrung World Arts Exchange (CWAE) free evem at che Shelley foreshore in Perth o n Febmary 1 The second yea r of this unique international arcs event featured performances by master m usicians from I n dia, the Frem antle Symphony Orchestra, UWJ\ Cho ral Society, the Temp le o f Fine Arts, WA Dance Sport C h ampions, and tl1e M iddar Aboriginal Dance Company.

The performances began after a traditional welcome to the country speech b y an Aboriginal eld er. The Shelley foreshore is a beautiful landscape sec on the Canning River with p lenty of grassy areas to set up a picnic. Hu.ad.reds of people turned up to enjoy the event and soak up tl,e atmosphere of an international arts exchange.

The m usicians from India were aptly described as 'maestros' by the compere. Artistes Samee r Rao o n the /;a11s11ri (India n Bamboo Ame), 1'fanish Pingle on the tJ10ba1111eena (Indian slide guitar), Vicky on che tabla and Tao Issa ro, percussionist, enthralled tbe audienc e with their mesmerising mUSIC,

As the musicians woUJ1d up their r o uti.oe, tl1e U niversiry of Western Australia C horal Society (UWACS) artistes, all dressed in white, came on to perform a coUaborative routine with the Temple of Fine Arts (fFA) dancers. The chorus provided a backdrop of Sanskrit cha n ts from the 1ig veda as tl,e TFA dancers rendered a dramatic performance entitled Ab11ti.

Painting is usually not considered as a performance which live audiences can enjoy, unlike dance or music However, visual artist Sarasa Krishnan wowed the audience, combining music and dance movements while painti.og a ca nvas on stage in front of a live audience. Sarasa and an associate produced fantastic paintings of an Indian woman in a smi and Krishna playing a Aute, leaving cbe audience spellbound Aud they painted despi te a su·ong breeze which made tl1eir canvas m ove around all the time.

" Painting on a moving canvas was a challenging but invigorating experi enc e. T he wind factor was a force to reckon w ith"! Sarasa co ld Indian Link.

So how did she get the id ea of combining these att forms?

Said Sarasa, "I am basically a dancer and choreographer, and chis invar iably influences my work as a v isual artist. A dancer is inherently a mus ician, a painter, a des ig n er, and much more When you allow yourself tl,e freedom to 'play', a wondrous world is revealed Only o ne requirement is necessary: an artiste h as to be fearless".

"Phili p Glass' opera Satp1graba, played by the Fremantle Philharmonic Orchestra a nd sung by tbe WA Choral society provided an e.,:hil arating mus ical backdrop tl1ar infused tl1e movement painting! The audience being in close contact was certainl y a catalyst on this inc redib le evening", s he added Among her many accomplis hm ents, Sarasa is a r tistic director of the TFA and d eputy director of SMV.

Abouc che evenc, Sarasa acknowledged organiser John 1i£claughlin, Arts and Culntral Events Officer of t he Canning cow1cil's accomp lish m ent. "(He) is an artiste himself, and i s n ot afraid w take chances. Such multicultural exchanges w ithin the community will foster a greater harmony w itl,in our soc iety. Many more councils should foUow h i s lead in creating such sizzling events tl1ar truly bring various cul tures togeiliet", she said

The even.iJ1g's performance had many o ther artistes of h igh calibre includi.og iliose of tl,e Fremantle Philharmonic Orchestra who showed commitment in lea n iing and executing compositions from the rig veda a nd Ph.ilip G lass' St1t)'agraba musical p iece. Tb e audien ce was created to a delightful mix of local and international talent, which is tl1e whole purpose of the arc exchange program. ln 2014, the T FA and lndian artistes in collaboration with local talent, presented a remai:bble performan ce.