Kal Aur Aaj: 25 years of Art Asia
Every story has a beginning and Art Asia’s started 25 years ago… to commemorate this milestone Art Asia and local people worked on a very special project.
In 2006 Art Asia was awarded a grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund to work with the local community and other organisations to capture South Asian heritage in Southampton with a particular focus on Art Asia’s 25 year history within the local community.
The project, Kal Aur Aaj: 25 years of Art Asia (Kal Aur Aaj meaning yesterday and today) saw children and adults participating in workshops to create a spectrum of colourful artwork; members of the community shared their stories of Art Asia and Southampton, five of which have been recorded and a transcribed and kept for prosperity and the restoration of past Art Asia photographs and film footage which has then been used to make a 30 minute documentary DVD and a special exhibition of photographs has been displayed in various locations across Southampton from theatres and libraries to foyers and even Hoglands park!
Some of the workshops that took place
Creative Heritage Workshops + Photos
Geometric patterns workshop at the Workers Educational Association (WEa). The participants looked at geometric patterns used in South Asian Visual Arts. The groups then used the patterns as a stimulus for creating a collage.
Funky Family Portrait + Photos
Creative multi-media workshops for members of the Black Heritage Association and for families at Mount Pleasant Media Workshop. The workshops focused on ideas of family and heritage. As a result of the workshops participants produced imaginative family portraits.
Make Your Own Cartoon + Photo
A workshop for families at Mount Pleasant Media Workshop. A piece of Asian music provided the stimulus for participants to create a piece of animation.
Screen Print Your Anniversary T-shirt + Photos
Screen-printing workshop for Southampton Street Homless Prevention Team and Southampton Young Carers Project. Participants designed and screen-printed their own t-shirts using traditional South-Asian imagery as inspiration.
