A melange of arts and crafts

Kimho Ip and local musicians perform at the Mela (Left), A scene from Butterfly - Butterfly

The daylong Poush Mela performances and crafts stalls formed the mainstay of the event with performances both in the indoor auditorium and out in the open air.

Traditional features like dholis (drummers), monkey shows, snake charmers were found along with new contemporary experimental performances by young artistes. Rickshaw painting, Manipuri crafts, Mandi crafts, pitha (winter cake), crafts made from shola, terracotta, books and toys were exhibited in the stalls.

Butterfly Butterfly, an experimental musical theatre was central to Poush Mela. The performance was produced with the artistic collaboration of actors, musicians and sculptors. Kimho Ip, a Scotland-based Chinese composer/musician and a key person in BanglaScot's projection of modern Scotland, composed the music. The performance tells the story of the life cycle of butterflies and reflected the transformation from conflict to harmony.

To achieve this, Kimho Ip created dialogues between pop/rock, folk, western classical, eastern classical and contemporary music with carefully choreographed improvisation, and open-minded and sensitive listening. He believes, "Innovative metamorphosis only takes place when reconciliation of differences is truly conceived and respected." Surely the music they played was the most contemporary ever played here.

Actors from Prachynat, musicians from Joler Gaan and visual artistes worked together in the one hour-long performance. Imran Hossain Piplu, Kimho Ip and Emon Islam are the directors of the performance. In the course of this collaborative work, Bangladeshi artistes learned a lot from Kimho and likewise, he also benefitted from the local artists and thus his work becomes a part of Bangladesh and Bangladesh a part of him.

Yang Qin, a musical instrument was used by Kimho Ip in the performance of Butterfly Butterfly. "This instrument was played for the first time in Bangladesh," said Kimho Ip.

Talking to The Daily Star, noted cultural activist Nasiruddin Yousuff said, "We have a long history of cultural ties with Scotland. Prince Dwarakanath Tagore received the honour of 'freeman of the City of Edinburgh'. Rabindranath Tagore's Phoole phoole dholey dholey and Purano shei diner kotha were based on Scottish tunes. This Poush Mela is a continuation of the connections established through them. In this changing world the role of cultural activities for the promotion of peace, love and mutual support makes it more relevant than ever before".

Alan Tweedie from Scotland explained how the idea of a Poush Mela developed, To quote him, "The concept of BanglaScot has been developing over the past few years. Bangladeshi artistes have been participating in Scottish melas held there by South Asian diaspora communities since 2000. The artistes felt the need of a platform for a long-term connection so that new ideas developed from cultural interaction can be sustained for the good of both countries."

In the formal inauguration programme Nasiruddin Yousuff, Alan Tweedie, co-organiser, and Masud Khan of British Council delivered speeches. The programme ended with the performances of Mehreen and Joler Gaan.