Karnataka - Bangalore   

Travelling show that tells human stories

Bangalore: A painting depicting colourful homes. “What is the story behind this painting?” asks one. “Didn’t read the newspaper today?” replies the other.

“No; what does this painting mean?”

“Do you know the temperature in Moscow?”

“No. What is the temperature in Moscow?”

“It is minus 45 degrees F.”

“What does that have to do with the painting?”

“The painting has colourful homes. I hope the poor people in Moscow have a roof over their head. I hope they don’t freeze to death.” That painting is just one of the many with stories that are part of the “Show Your Hope – The World at Home”, the mobile global exhibition that is now in the city.

Since 2003, the mobile global exhibition has been travelling around the world with paintings made by international artists.

The theme of all paintings is “Show Your Hope” and the artists have all painted on small panels.

Storyteller Martin Voorbij takes the paintings around the world in his bright yellow van. He uses his endless enthusiasm to speak about the project.

Mr. Voorbij believes the most serious things and humour go hand-in-hand. “The artists tell the stories through their paintings. I just shake them a bit and present them with humour. This way, with the help of art, music and stories, I am able to show the audience universal beauty and make them participate and enjoy it,” he says.

He adds that hope is a social emotion, not individual. “The more we know about the world, we will have lesser misunderstandings and lesser prejudices. The exhibition allows every individual in the audience to create his own opinion and lets them reflect upon their surroundings,” he says.

He says that the exhibition is a story-telling performance, educational project and a communication project all rolled in one.

“By telling people stories about the world that appears in the painting opens up a new vista for them.

The exhibition is also an art project with many artists in which the paintings symbolise dynamical unity,” Mr. Voorbij says.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Coming to the rescue of captive elephants in the country
The man who demystified the webpage
Travelling show that tells human stories
Physical Education to be core subject from this year
Entries invited
Kannada Sahitya Parishat elections likely in August
BJP leaders draw criticism
Blame game begins in the State Congress
Heavy rain in several parts of State
Insurance company asked to pay credit card holder
Telgi to be produced in court today
Area under Bt cotton to touch two lakh hectares in State
They had fun raising funds
Three die in accident
Ministers inspect rain-hit areas
Kingfisher Airlines launches service to Vadodara
Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu