HOMECOMING
A collaborative video project for migrant workers of India
When
a few netizens
collaborated
to share stories
of suffering migrants
through art;
something transpired.
their STORIES
OUR medium
Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming by Himanshu Gopalani
#Hungry by Sanju Kadu
No Looking Back Now by Reechik
The beginning
When the deplorable news surrounding the terrible plight of the hungry, helpless, broke and desperate to get home migrant workers shot into limelight, it affected us deeply.
As artists,
the only way to express what affects us,
is to make art.
This led to the formation of a collective - bringing in people from all walks of life, with different skill-sets, united by the common grief that was shared after understanding the migrant crisis.
Together, the idea was to find ways to depict and document the ordeal of the migrants, by means of short visuals, which break the shackles of being just another statistic in local news channels.
Animation was the go-to medium that, in our opinion would humanise these stories. And it was only possible with the equal participation and commitment of each member of the collective.
The end
Though we haven't reached the migrant workers directly and have not made any tangible impact,
it was wonderful to see a Zoom Room full of people discussing the issue, expressing their concerns and trying a way to depict what they were feeling
through some visual medium.
Is it not a way of developing empathy?
Some who were unaware became aware.
Some who were aware and frustrated, found a voice.
Some who were depressed, found something to do.
Some who were lonely in lock-down, found friends.
And we all learned from each other,
eventually in the process leaving us with imagery
that will document this moment of suffering forever.
Sometimes doing this much also counts.
Don't you agree?
Everything usually starts with a 'Yes'
Here are those who said it.
This project was initiated by Studio Ainak, and moderated by its founder Suruchi Sharma