Artsworld - The sound of the Orient - General

General

Artsworld - The sound of the Orient

Celebrating the oud, Mozambique's Theatre of the Oppressed and Myanmar protest art.

Last Modified: 07 Oct 2008 07:44 GMT

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From a glassblower in Tunisia to artists in Tanzania; from kite makers in Japan to tribal music in Borneo, Artsworld tells the stories of people whose talent brings beauty and colour to the world.

We look at how people across the globe are using the arts to bring about social change in their communities, highlight injustice and provoke political reform.

Al Jazeera's new series brings you the stories that allow for a greater understanding of one another's cultures and traditions.

This week's show

Oud music

The oud represents the rich musical culture and heritage of the Arabs

For many the oud is the sound of the Orient. Believed to have originated over 4,000 years ago in Iraq, the string instrument was adopted across the region.

For Naseer Shamma, an Iraqi musician who has four oud schools across the Middle East, the oud is more than just a musical instrument - it is the way he expresses the suffering he sees in the world today.

Naseer dreams of reviving interest in the oud and other Eastern instruments. "My dream is to plant a musician in each home. I want to see an army of musicians," he says.

Artsworld visits Shamma in Cairo.

Myanmar protest art

Kyaw San says his paintings are inspired by the struggle for democracy

In this part of the show Artsworld travels to Australia to meet two exiles from Myanmar who are using their music and their art as tools for political and cultural resistance.

Kyaw San was a portrait painter in Myanmar but when he became politicised and began creating artwork for campaign posters he was arrested and interrogated.

In 1990 he fled Myanmar and in 1997 he arrived in Australia where he continues his work as a painter, sculptor and musician, supporting the pro-democracy movement in exile.

Saw Takaw Wah is a respected musician who says: "We have to try in every way to get democracy. One way is to use my music. The other way is armed struggle. I'm ready to do either."

Artsworld follows the two men as they try to raise awareness about Myanmar and the plight of refugees around the world.

Theatre of the Oppressed

Felix Bruno runs an acting workshop for young people from a garage

Mozambique has a long tradition of socially-conscious theatre, but a small group of people in the south of the country have thrown out convention and created a space where everyone is an actor.

The Grupo de Teatro do Oprimido or Theatre of the Oppressed allows the audience to interact with the actors, who are themselves part of the community, and to tackle difficult topics such as HIV and Aids.

Felix Bruno, who co-ordinates the theatre group, says: "People in the community can identify with the people on stage, and because of that they accept the message that is being conveyed to them as opposed to an outsider coming in and telling them what to do."

Artsworld meets Bruno, some of the theatre's young actors and audience members who have come out to listen to their message.

India's 'Sandman'

Sudarshan Pattnaik dedicates his sand sculptures to causes such as HIV or polio

Nature has often played the artist's muse but for Sudarshan Pattnaik, India's 'Sandman', nature becomes the art.

His typical day begins on a beach with a mound of sand and a vivid imagination.

By the end of the day, the heap of sand is pared down to reveal the work of art that lies within.

"The beach is a huge canvas for me ... the sand as well as the water, which is equally important. When the two come together, they form a unique medium for sculpture," he says.

Pattnaik taught himself the art of sand-sculpting but his success has enabled him to establish The Golden Sand Art Institute - a school for aspiring sand sculptors.

Artsworld meets the sculptor as he gets to work on a project that will be dedicated to the cause closest to his heart - global warming.

Watch the programme online and click here to 'send us your feedback':

Part one:

Part two:

This episode of Artsworld airs from Saturday, October 04, 2008 and can be seen at the following times GMT:

Saturday 0830 and 2230; Sunday 0630 and 1930; Monday 0300; Tuesday 1430; Wednesday 0130 and 1230; Thursday 0330 and 2330; and Friday 0730