Karwaan is a quest to find the answers in the lives of several artists across the country – musicians, painters, photographers, et al.
This motivation led us to undertake a road trip spanning a travel of 6000 km, while exploring local artisans and traditions covering 9 cities in 3 indian states. We met 60 artists during our journey who come from different cultures and backgrounds. Our conversations unraveled their stories and their motivation in pursuing art as a way of life.
We met Ms. Das, for whom singing sa all day, everyday is an unparalleled joy. Whereas for Lalit, the sound of Pakhvaj is the reason to live.
What makes an Artist create Art? This was a lingering topic, which evolved into contexts of what is art, how do we economize and what it does to us; among many others.
Art is an inspiration, a way of looking at the simple yet intricate experiences of life, using emotional and creative abilities at work to create in the form of various representations which can vary greatly from dance, theatre , painting, writing, photography and many others.
It is hard to define Art in a single crisp statement as it has no boundaries and cannot be given a definition. It is driven by passion and the voice of oneself to create something extraordinary from the ordinary experiences of life which we ‘normal’ people usually see and move ahead.
Karwan is an attempt to bring out the stories untold of these artists, hidden beneath the dust and the society’s rusted surface which are a powerful source of inspiration, we as individuals look for in daily life.
Various artists across the country have millions of stories behind their making, with every story casting a light on a perspective which varies from one to another, but there is something which is also in common. They work towards creating an expression or representation of their experiences, thoughts, the way they see life around them and within them. It is inspiring because their work symbolizes how beautiful it gets when someone puts all they have in the present moment to create a representation of themselves or the experiences that shape them.
We haven’t come across a comprehensive project in India that focuses on the lives and struggles of the artist at the ground level. The artist who is still a student or someone who has spent his entire life in art. The ones who are well known and the ones who are just beginning. Their stories are inspiring. Their stories are important. And if they can answer a question that you’ve been carrying in your head, we’ll consider this project successful.