Written By : Siti Khadijah
PETALING JAYA: The Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) Malaysia is known for nurturing appreciation for Indian arts and culture through performances, workshops and in-person classes. During this difficult time, however, they have been forced to explore alternative ways of keeping the arts alive.
Among their latest efforts is Bindu, an online platform that offers a variety of arts lessons and activities, founded by TFA members Priyanka Raman and Bhuma Paranjothy.
“When we realised we would be entering another lockdown this year, we started thinking of ways to spend our time productively while allowing people to discover new hobbies and passions,” Priyanka tells theindependent.my.
Bhuma adds that by moving their efforts online, people from all over could come together and learn. “We wanted to create a place where creativity could be let loose. The platform allows people to create new connections and friendships while discovering new hobbies.”
They started by conducting short modular workshops in April, where teachers and students connected virtually rather than face-to-face. The feedback from both pupils and instructors was very encouraging, with the students asking for more workshops to be conducted.
And with that, Bindu was officially launched last month, offering a wide range of arts-related workshops – from music and dance to painting and language – held on weekends and conducted by experts in various fields. Workshops have so far been planned until October.
The Bindu co-founders are also instructors – Priyanka teaches North Indian Hindustani music, while Bhuma is a vocal Carnatic music teacher – as well as active participants in the workshops. “I am learning to paint for the first time in my life!” Bhuma laughs.
Previous workshops have covered the visual arts; language and music for children; mantra chanting; poetry and literature; yoga; table tapping and rhythm; and Indian music from the state of Maharashtra.
To come are a Silat workshop by Azmie Zanal Abdden; music from the Bhakti movement by vocalist Krithika Chandrasekhar; kolam drawing by Kasturi Venkat; and an introduction to the cajon by percussionist Muthuraman Ganesan, among many others.
There will also be a virtual conversation with three of TFA’s homegrown artists, Shankar Kandasamy, Mavin Khoo and Umesh Shetty, on Aug 29.
Most of the workshops are open to all, regardless of age or ability. “You can find classes with students from age six to 60, of different races and from different locations, coming together to learn and have fun,” Priyanka says.
Case in point – 57-year-old Nadarajan Subramaniam has attended two workshops, one of them on charcoal painting.
He shares that the lessons were well-organised: participants were given time in advance to prepare the materials needed and were advised on substitutes for items they were not able to acquire.
“The instructor was very attentive and went step-by-step to ensure everyone was able to understand the instructions,” he adds. “Each of us was also given time to show our work to the class.”
Priyanka and Bhuma could not be happier with the feedback.
“There is so much negativity going around right now,” Priyanka says, “so we hope to create a safe and positive place where people will be able to switch off from the world and interact with others with similar interests and passions.”
