Collaboration with the Artist Community of Meghalaya

The Covid-19 pandemic made its severity felt across all sections of society, one of them being the artist community. Artists are usually pushed to abandon their practices during times of crises and take up jobs which help ends meet immediately. What gets lost during such instances of desperate measures are testimonies, stories of resilience and hope, and stories which represent the collective sentiment and consciousness of an entire generation. Realising the importance of art during the global crisis and harbouring  concern for the artists in our state and inspired by the new stories that were being told, the art that embodied the underside of the pandemic and the medium through which they were being told and shared, The Northeast India AV Archive formed short term partnerships with various artists from across Meghalaya in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. 

The works produced by the end of the projects ranged across a spectrum of artworks including illustrations, writings, film, photographs, paintings and music. All those works encapsulated the image of the Covid-19 pandemic, the various phases of lockdown and people’s changing relationships with the lockdowns. The works also reimagined life post-pandemic. The body of works were testimony to the varied experiences that people had with the pandemic. Although personal in sentiment and narrative, the works were universal in language. The following artists were engaged with the project. 

Writing - Sashi Teibor Laloo, Baiartis Lyngdoh Peinlang, Banshanlang Marwein, Ruby Tengchina W. Momin, Lapynshngain Makdoh

Illustration - Arlangki Nongrum, Clyde Thangkhiew

Painting - Shanborlang Kharbudon, Careen Langstieh, Rangskhembor Mawblei, Casper Syiem, Kynsaibor Rynjah, Lenny Benson Kharkrang 

Sound and Music - Banshailang Mukhim, Daryll Alverson Dura, Bryan Chuangku K. Sangma, Munarlin P. Marak, Ditrawell Tongper, Gregory Ford Nongrum, Manstarly Chullai, Ritik Roy Malngiang, Balamphrang Kharbuli, Anon Cheran Momin

Film - Dominic Sangma, Gautam Syiem, Sagar Pandey, Simi Khongtiang

Photography - Lambok Thangkhiew, Pynkmenlang Lyngdoh Mawnai, Conrad Syiem, Emborlang Sayo, Kordor Lyngdoh Tron