Native Myth 1st season
A Public Art Project
‘Native Myth’ (in Bengali – aancholic upokotha) – the title of a Public art project organizing by Back Art is an important initiative for Bangladesh, where research based artworks on rural life style, dialogues, philosophy of daily life, myth and faith, culture and relationship, superstition, history and nature, will be done. Back art has a vision to continue organizing a series of A.I.R (artist in residence) program and touring in all the district and rural area of Bangladesh based on mythology and culture along with showcasing promising young artists. The program promises to be an exclusive, educating and exploring research based public art project for our community.
Back art is going to organize the first season of ‘Native Myth’ from 1st May to 3rd May 2015, in a village named ‘‘Ichhakhali-Baganbari’’, located in Motlob thana, Chandpur district in Bangladesh. More than 2500 people live here in ‘Ichhakhalee’ Village. Before British colonial period about 300 years ago this area was an Island. This land was very much fertile; river and ponds were full of fishes. The huge volume of green shades and lot of ponds were very significant in this village. It is heard that among the variety of fishes ‘Prawn’ (ICHA fish in Bengali) was not available here. And from British period people named this village ‘Ichakhalee’, because of unavailability of ‘Icha’ fish (Prawn). On that time Lord Minto (British Borolaat) sent his soldiers to this village to collect ‘Khajna’ from the villagers. But a hero named Ali Akbar protested and stood against them. He united poor villagers and told Borolaat that villagers are not prepared for this. Borolaat become pleased to his brave and made him Keeper (Jomadar) of these lands.
Native Myth is going to working on all the local and regular mythological statement and practice through modern contemporary art language in our country. In this season 10 young artists are participating and they will work with different media such as Installation Art, Performance Art, Video Art, Performative Installation, Art collaboration and presentation. In addition, after the working process whole project will announce an open day on 3rd May 2015, for the local news media and mass people. - Shubho Saha
