"Assimilation"

"Assimilation" is the word which aptly describes the latest residency at Khoj Studios. An amalgamation of signing Spanish gypsy poetry, mythology and depiction of issues of disability; the enthusiastic group of twelve deaf students under the tutelage of Spanish artist Jose Abad Lorente are a delight to watch. Refrain from considering their performance as a spectacle since the creativity and experimentation with which they use their bodies and the space at Khoj is like a caravan of itinerant performers every afternoon. Mythology is what artist Jose Abad Lorente used, to provide a beautiful formation to these twelve creative bodies into unison of issues depicting disability. Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy and compassion was the source of inspiration and idea to assimilate these diverse creative forces into one. The many limbs and one body of the goddess was sought to be an inspiration to form small groups to contemplate on issues like discrimination, right to education and work by these students. Spontaneous, creative and independent, these students open novel channels of communication which need no verbal communication, pity or compassion but rather evoke reverence for themselves as budding artists. Moving out of their secure cocoons for the first time, these students were open to assimilate new ideas, experiment with new spaces and be "vocal" about their rights, issues and concerns through poetry.
<Parul Wadhwa - Project Co-ordinator>