the world of art

the first few weeks in london, i was taking in the commercial success, the touristy sights, and the changing weather. gradually the cliched notions about karan johar deriving the inspiration of his next story and the range of arty posters along the escalators in the tube stations began to catch my attention. what was it about london that was so vibrant? london and new york - the twin capitals of the world - what was it that i was missing here?

and then i started taking it in. one day randomly out of office we landed up at a jamaican poetry recital. 4 poets, equally quirky, but what entertainment. below the words and the performance, there were the pangs of migration, of black versus white, of generation gap coming out of being raised in different cultures. children's poems about how a grandma wouldnt let a child take a meagerly sandwich in his picnic lunch box, but packed him a sumptous meal instead. or the one where the poet played the flute and sang a very unusual moving song about that felt like unrequited love. or the one about the power and might of a carribean woman.. i was soaking up a new language, a new culture.. then another day i caught a photo exhibition on urban africa. each country and capital meticulously detailed out in its architectural evolution. and right next door an amazing display of innovations to make resources more sustainable, right from Puma's clever little bag to the Spanish ecohub, i cudnt stop taking pictures even with my awful camera..

and then the streets itself. each area has its signature style, be it the office going suit clad guy running down an escalator, or the andheri like shopkeepers in whitechapel, women in make up and short dresses, or artistic groups gathering together for artistic inspirations in workshops and museums.. i happened to watch vicky christina barcelona in the midst of this all, and the sheer freedom of thought amazed me.. call it artistic talent or eccentricity, there is an undercurrent in this city that has that element in it.. and thats excites me! i wonder if people who grew up here, realise this or maybe its never been new for them.. ? i continue to figure it out..