The artwork Each Tiny Drop transported water from the Soan River in Pakistan to the Medlock
The Manchester International Festival opened to the public last night, with a touching and immersive performance from artist Risham Syed called Each Tiny Drop. The free-to-attend event saw hundreds of people flock to the newly built space near Piccadilly Station.
Attendees were then invited to take a small terracotta pot and fill it with water taken from the Soan River in Syed’s home country of Pakistan. Then, through a route soundscaped with exotic birdsong, soothing gongs and a local choir singing in Punjabi, the water was transported by each participant and dispersed into the Medlock.
It’s a statement on the state of our water around the world, and how we might avert crisis. Syed told the MEN: “The Soan River, like most of the rivers in the world, is in a bad state. When we talk about pollution or the state of the air or the food that we eat, it seems like it’s beyond our control to fix it.“It seems impossible. But those days of covid, it happened in front of our eyes, like magic. We stopped our cars for a week and life comes back. So perhaps it’s not so hard.
“All waters of the world are one, and each drop connects with eahc other. It’s a metaphor, or a wish or a prayer for all waters of the world to be cleaned up. We saw within a few weeks of lockdown how the air quality transformed, how life came back in place where it had disappeared. “Lahore has become one of the most polluted cities in the world, and within weeks of lockdown, the sky was blue, we had birds I had never seen in 50 years. That was the inspiration behind this project.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Review: Ryuichi Sakamoto's Kagami at the Manchester International FestivalReview: Kagami at the Manchester International Festival - this glimpse into the future and the past will move you to tears
Read more »
Take a look inside Manchester's brand new Aviva Studios for the very first timeAviva Studios, the flagship new home of Factory International and Manchester International Festival will officially open in October
Read more »
Manchester venue named one of the most beautiful buildings in the WORLDManchester has earnt itself an International Green Apple
Read more »
New name for Manchester’s Factory art centre as multi-million pound sponsorship deal announcedA new name for Manchester’s Factory art centre - as multi-million pound sponsorship deal announced. clarefallon is at ‘Aviva Studios’ as the city’s international festival gets underway.
Read more »
Illegal Migration Bill: Government accused of ignoring international law during House of Lords defeatsPeers put forward four amendments on the government's Illegal Migration Bill, with votes on more expected next week. Conservative MPs will get the opportunity to overrule the upper chamber when the legislation returns to the House of Commons but the government will have to explain itself.
Read more »
Fifty jobs to be created as international manufacturer sets up Newport baseAn international tractor manufacturing business has chosen Shropshire as its home for a new research centre, with the move set to provide a jobs boost for the region.
Read more »