It is 2010 and Kultur Lab is shifting gears!
Over the past few months, many have asked me as to why London was my city of choice for Kultur Lab.
Well, here is the reply...
London is one of the most diverse cities in the UK with over 45% of non-white population i.e. of Black and minority ethnic origins. London’s population is also growing and an estimated 800,000 people will move into London over the next decade or so.
The capital’s sheer ethnic diversity requires a challenging and an inspiring agenda of development and promotion of cultural life in London, an agenda that represents a huge opportunity for learning resources in terms of how to develop relationships with all communities and how to seek their engagement through these resources. London’s archives, libraries and museums have an important role to play in promoting knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures and fostering a sense of identity, especially for the younger generation.
However, many archives, libraries and museums do not reflect the needs of the thriving ethnic diversity of London’s communities, let alone the need for developing children’s education from a cultural and a creative perspective. Kultur Lab aims to fulfill those needs that are not yet catered to by the existing institutional set-up and aims to provide a conducive ambience for children to explore, experiment and engage with their native cultures through various integrated projects.
Kultur Lab will start its journey from East London due to the region’s high percentage of ethnic population and will be strategically located at Hackney Wick .Any other suggestions that you may have are most welcome!
Friday, 22 January 2010
Friday, 16 October 2009
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Intangible Cultural Heritage
in⋅tan⋅gi⋅ble/ɪnˈtændʒəbəl/ [in-tan-juh-buhl]
1.not tangible; incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable.
2.not definite or clear to the mind: intangible arguments.
2.not definite or clear to the mind: intangible arguments.
Synonyms:2. vague, elusive, fleeting.
The definition of ‘intangible cultural heritage’ (ICH) has long suffered the problem of vagueness associated with its individual constituent terms; ‘intangible’, ‘culture’ and ‘heritage’ .While in simple terms, it can be defined as the culture that people practise as part of their daily lives; UNESCO, almost to the point of sounding pedantic, defines it as the “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. It is transmitted from generation to generation and is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity".
Yes, I agree that it sounds like pure 'academic speak'! Urge you all to dwell on this for some time...and you'll figure that it isn't rocket science! Diwali is round the corner and i'm sure each one of you can recall aspects of your culture that are intangible. Do share them here!
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Genesis
“It is not for the love of all that all is dear; but for the love of the soul in all that all is dear”.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Last September, I had been to Hong Kong as part of a sourcing trip and while watching the light show alongside the harbour, I had one of those moments where I felt I was a rootless individual in a city clearly ‘Manhattanised’. Where was the ‘China’ in it? Five months later, I happened to witness the dragon dances as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London. Ironical as it may seem, it is the very homogenisation of cultures that pushes people to experience cultural nuances elsewhere.
Globalisation is indeed a complex phenomenon that creates spaces of commonality but also spaces of difference but it isn’t new in Asian countries which have long been under colonial rules. However, what is of utmost concern is the rate of acceleration leading to standardization of values among the young, dismantlement of communities, rampant commercialization and extreme cases of nationalism.
As poignantly depicted in the movie Slumdog Millionaire (a by-product of commodification of Indian culture), most metropolises of Asia are faces of contrasts where high-rise buildings and slum dwellings; kucchha roads and flyovers; kirana shops and high street boutiques co-exist. In a time-space compressed urban landscape, the conservation of cultural heritage; both tangible and intangible, is therefore pivotal in restoring the identity of a place that may otherwise be lost.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Last September, I had been to Hong Kong as part of a sourcing trip and while watching the light show alongside the harbour, I had one of those moments where I felt I was a rootless individual in a city clearly ‘Manhattanised’. Where was the ‘China’ in it? Five months later, I happened to witness the dragon dances as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London. Ironical as it may seem, it is the very homogenisation of cultures that pushes people to experience cultural nuances elsewhere.
Globalisation is indeed a complex phenomenon that creates spaces of commonality but also spaces of difference but it isn’t new in Asian countries which have long been under colonial rules. However, what is of utmost concern is the rate of acceleration leading to standardization of values among the young, dismantlement of communities, rampant commercialization and extreme cases of nationalism.
As poignantly depicted in the movie Slumdog Millionaire (a by-product of commodification of Indian culture), most metropolises of Asia are faces of contrasts where high-rise buildings and slum dwellings; kucchha roads and flyovers; kirana shops and high street boutiques co-exist. In a time-space compressed urban landscape, the conservation of cultural heritage; both tangible and intangible, is therefore pivotal in restoring the identity of a place that may otherwise be lost.
Stop. Breathe. Think what we've got!
Welcome to Kultur Lab!
Kultur Lab is an idea - a social enterprise being formed in London to provide children with an authentic experience of Asian culture through constantly evolving programming backed by extensive research and development.
The mission of Kultur Lab is to create a unique environment in which children of all ages and abilities can explore, experiment and engage with culture and in the process, entertain themselves and others.
Although we plan to incorporate most art forms into our workshops and programs, our focus will be on the living heritage also known as intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
This venture is still in a concept stage and i'm using this blog to garner support for this project and also elicit feedback/views/critique from people who care about making the world a better place.
Kultur Lab is an idea - a social enterprise being formed in London to provide children with an authentic experience of Asian culture through constantly evolving programming backed by extensive research and development.
The mission of Kultur Lab is to create a unique environment in which children of all ages and abilities can explore, experiment and engage with culture and in the process, entertain themselves and others.
Although we plan to incorporate most art forms into our workshops and programs, our focus will be on the living heritage also known as intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
This venture is still in a concept stage and i'm using this blog to garner support for this project and also elicit feedback/views/critique from people who care about making the world a better place.
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