A'nextwave'IndianoriginYouTuber

Shyamali Sinha's popular YouTube channel Foodie's Hut chosen for the 'One Million Views' project, as part ofthe Next Wave Festival

BYDHANYA SAMUEL

Next \'<lave isan experimental arts festival that has been runningbi-annually in Melbourne for thepast 30 years. Established in 1984, thernainideologyof the festivalhas been to provide career developmentand presentationopportunities to artists, particularlyemerging artists. The festival va.lues ideas chat are risk-taking, and also emphasises onthe inclusionof artists from diverse genders, sexualorientationsand cultural backgrounds

'Onel'vlill.ion Views' is the debut collaborativeprojectofXanthe Dobbie andTiyanBaker,awardwinningdigital artistswhosharea commonloveforvideo portraimre,popular culture,newtechnology and the internee.

According to socialmedianews.com.au, AustraliansloveYouTube,with 14miUion unique visits inMarch 2016 alone. Baker saysthatAuscral.ia'sYouTube consumption habitsonl.ine reflect a loveof celebrities andpersonalities that play intimate rolesin theirprivatelives,andyetare almostwholly unacknowledgedbeyond the internee.

"ThroughOneMill.ionViews,wewanted co investigate this culm.ralbl.ind spot byusing portraituretoaskwhoareYouTubers,why do they make chis content,whowatches this contentandwhy?"

Tiyan and Xanche believethat YouTubers areanamazinglot of people and it takes aton of creativity, bardwork and courage to start and keep a channel going.So OneMill.ionViews is also about legitimising this face and celebratingthese YouTubers as true creators. "One of our other major goals withOne1v[illion Views' was co integrate two major audiences: art audiencesandYouTube audiences. As artistswho loveYouTube,wewanted to see what happenswhen d1ese two worlds get mixed together."

And that'swhere Poodie's Huecomesin, createdby aMelbourne-basedBengali chef celebratingherJoveandpassionforIndian/ Bengali foodinher adopted country.

SbyamaliSinhawasbornand brought upin Kolkataandmoved toMelbourne in 2011 withher husband.Shehasalwayshad apassionfor food,wantingcolearnand experience allkinds of tastes,whichmake her a bit ofa travel aficionadocoo.

Butwhatreally drivesheris herpassion forBengaliandIndian food,wanting to cakeit to aglobalaudience and showing theworldthat Indian cuisine ismore than just curry and butter chicken masala. And thiswas the main motivation behind her YouTubechannel, Foodie's Hut.

ThemovetoMelbournemadeSinha homesickfor alld10secomfortingRavours andtastes frombackhome,and she actively begancothinkof doingsomethjngabout it.Sbealsonoticed d1erewere very few YouTubechannels focusingon the cuisine ofBengal.Coupledwith her husband's motivation(also her technicalexpert),she launched Pooclie's Huton Bengali New Year'sDay in2012.

Shecook a briefhiatuscohave a beautiful littlegirl and rem.med toMelbourneand Pooclie'sHut.SpeakingtoIndianIiuk, Sinhasaid, "Homecooked food is not just aboutfeeclingyour hunger,itis alsoabout feecling and nourishingyour soul,igniting memories of family and homewhichcan bea ratherstrongemotionwhenyouare Livingina differenccountry.Younot only want cocookfamiliar tastes but also learn traditional recipesandre-create these in yourown kitchen,eventually passingondiat knowledge cothe nextgeneration."

ApartfromBengali delicacies, Poodie's Hut is alsoaboutsimpleIndian and international recipes that aresuited for chosewhoare rnshedfortime,and also chosewhoarejuststarting colearncooking.

Shyamali is excited about being a pare of theOne Million Viewsproject.Shesays itis ahugerecognition for her passion and hardwork,beingfeatured alongside other creativeYouTubers Italsoprovides Poodie's Huewith a globalaudienceand a bigger platform co showcaseherpassion for food.

TonewbiesorwannabeYouTubers, d1e onlythingshe has to say is that thejourney is a longone,and only hardwork,passion and dedication foryour craft will helpyou be successful Onel'viillion Views presented six diptych portraits of theYouTubersin shop front windowsalongErrolStreetinNorth Melbourne,from5 to 22May.Alsoincluded was awalkingtour of the exhibition locationswith the artists themselves,and a HowtoGoViralYouTuberworkshopon Sunday 8May atArts House.

There isalsoanonlineportalwith essays, videos and interviews tharwill bereleased soonatonemillionvie,vs.com.au