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‘Tis the season – Bahrain is enjoying an unexpected spell of extended pleasant weather and everybody is scrambling to make the most of it. There are art shows and talk shows, dance debuts and even locally-made movie premières and cultural competitions so that every weekend presents an unforeseen opportunity to do a ‘culture crawl’ from one event to another.
I used to be a purist who scoffed at people who did that but I see the point of it now. Almost all the performers and artists are friends and in Bahrain’s famously close-knit community, how can you not show up to applaud their creativity? Even if it means back-to-back events and rushing from one to the other, battling Bahrain’s weekend traffic?
But what does that do to our already goldfish-like attention span? Are we really so culturally savvy that we can toggle between an art show and a music concert while bridging the divide by driving through a sea of honking cars? We are just ticking the box by being physically present while our mind goes into GPS mode and maps out the route to the next event destination instead of focusing on what is being presented on stage or on canvas for our artistic appreciation.
Bahrain gives us all – whether Bahraini or expat – the opportunity to realise our dreams. And modern technology and business methods have made it so much easier to own a larger-than-life reality. Always wanted to direct or star in a movie? Hand held video cameras – even, a high-powered smartphone – and downloaded editing software makes it possible. Want to be an author? Self-publish. Want to star in a play? There are theatre groups and spaces which can make it possible. You, a painter? Hire a space and exhibit. Inevitably, there is not enough rigour in assessing the value of the creative work.
You may argue that the best works of art are invariably posthumously appreciated. Think Van Gogh. Think F Scott Fitzgerald. But the best art is elevated because of the message it conveys. We expat creative people also need to think about what our art is reflecting. Themes of the migrant life, details of the diaspora world and how our identity is shaped by our immigrant narratives are all missing from the pretty pictures we see and the movies scripted and directed in Bahrain. Fifty years from now, a social science investigation will find a smooth and meaningless slate in place of fascinating clues for these years.
Having lived in Bahrain for four decades now, I have seen people who were either babies or toddlers when we came here grow into amazing artists in different fields – some have become movie stars, yet others are great classical dancers and some are rock musicians. They all nurtured their talent in the Bahrain arena with shaky beginnings, cheered on by parents and family friends. Let us continue to encourage our wannabe Satyajit Rays and Nureyevs but let us also push them to reflect on their lives as diaspora members and put some Bahrain into their art. Otherwise it’s just a vanity effort, akin to taking a selfie.
meeraresponse@gmail.com
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