'Artery' helps Darjeeling poets, artists vent their feelings

On the first day, around 26 artists performed, among whom 10 were poets. The artists tried their best to visualize poetry during its recitation...

SAGAR BASISTH, SNS,  1 DARJEELING, I NOVEMBER 2020 : The unexpected and uncertain pandemic that has engulfed the entireworld has led to a lot of activities being suspended. It has affected every businesses and profession, and writers and artists are no exception.

However, it is common rule of nature that positive and negative aspects run side by side complementing one another.

Amid such a situation, a group of young enthusiastic poets and artists joined hands together to organise what they called "Artery," a platform for budding poets and artists to showcase their talents during tough times like these.

"Artery." as the name suggests was a fusion of poetry and art, and an event organised by "Poeti-Kosh" in association with the "Darjeeling Arts Culture" , while being supported by "Central Inn Kitchen" and media partners as "Publik-nama" and "Netra Productions."

"Poeti-Kosh" is a YouTube platform that promotes budding poets/story-tellers as it uploads their work by editing them with spectacular visuals on a regular basis. "Artery" was a two-day event held on 17 and 18 October.

"On the first day, around 26 artists performed, among whom 10 were poets. The artists tried their best to visualize poetry during its recitation, thereby pouring down their imagination on paper with colourful paints. Keeping in mind the current pandemic situation, all safety measures and precautions were in place. Hand sanitizers were efficiently provided, masks were made compulsory and norms of social distancing were followed at all times," said Lubina Kritika, a poetess, who was the host for the event. She is also one of the members of "PoetiKosh."

The event for Day-1 over,  certificates of appreciation duly signed by the founding members of "Poeti Kosh " and "Darjeeling Arts Culture" were awarded to all the performers who helped make the day memorable.

The second day saw an exhibition of art work that included pictorial representations of the stories heard the previous day.

"The idea of fusion worked wonders as the audience was clearly able to visualize what was heard the other day so that they can take home poetry and its subject with a clearer picture on their minds, which would ultimately help poetry in creating lasting impact on everyone," Miss Kritika said.

"Organising an event amid the pandemic was a daunting task in itself, but the way it shaped path for accepting the new normal, keeping hope and faith alive for a better tomorrow, was the biggest positive side to it." she added.

(https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2876686/Siliguri-The-Statesman/02-END-NOVEMBER-2020#page/2/3)