Art, Hope and Covid

How are Bhubaneswar's artists and designers staying relevant in the pandemic.

Art and design have always engaged with an audience. One reflects on the current time and the other find out solutions to their problems and demands. But right now the chirpy audience finds itself stuck at their homes with more pressing things to worry about. While some have closed their shutters and wait with folded arms, we asked an artist and a fashion designer, how have they been tiding over you-know-what. With no art shows or pop-ups, we find out what keeps our Bhubaneswar's creative leaders busy?

"Now being an artist, I am no different, I am also praying and staying home to overcome this without being affected or affecting physically or mentally," says Veejayant Kumar Dash. A Bhubaneswar-based artist who has been featured beyond the borders of India at exhibitions, biennales and museums. But despite all of the cancelled events and inaccessible museums, he isn't complaining. He says "Its time to accept digital." A simple solution taking the form of virtual tours and online exhibitions, reaching out to an even wider audience. But we ask him, how does he stay inspired within the confines of his home? "the creative mind doesn’t need to go out for inspirations or motivation because a serious practitioner of Art always looks inside than the surface." So, what is to take is that one simply stops complaining and not letting the virus kill our spirits. And that is the role of art, to inspire and uplift despite everything.

While art has its place in reflecting and recording our current plight, design is at its most important phase of evolution. We talked to Lipsa Hembram, fashion designer for her brand Galang Gabaan. While fashion is not the priority with trend taking a backseat for an average consumer right now, we were curious how has her brand adapted. While folding her arms and taking a break is an option, she has not put the brand on hold. As a handloom-based brand, Galang Gabaan employs several highly skilled and point-blank irreplaceable artisans and weavers. "We do not want to lose the network and let the artisans and weavers choose other modes of income," she says. It could be a loss to Odisha's rich handlooms if its workers find themselves without work. So to keep the wheel running, the brand is delving into many new projects in-tune with the new market. Something to look forward to. Also, masks have become a conversation starter. So the brand is using its network of artisans and weavers to make hand-painted cotton masks. All of this, besides launching a portal to shop online to be launched soon.

Like this article, even the pandemic will come to a conclusion. But what will not be relevant is our previous notion of normal. What both the creative leaders agree is this is not a bad dream, that we rub our eyes and its all back to how it was. It is a time for action and introspection to evolve and design the new perfect normal. As Lipsa H. puts it aptly, "If we keep working, we have hope."