Can art be used to both celebrate Indian culture and keep it alive? Rianne Karra ID: S17104342 Birmingham City University BA Art and Design 13/01/20 1 Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………….3 Chapter 1………………………………………………………………………4 Chapter 2………………………………………………………………………5 Chapter 3.……………………………………………………………………..6 Chapter 4……………………………………………………………………….7-12 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………..13 Bibliography………………………………………………………………….14-17 Appendix………………………………………………………………………..18 2 Introduction This dissertation looks into the importance of both celebrating and keeping Indian culture alive in the UK today and how art can be used to do that. Celebrating the diversity and difference within the UK, that came as a part of immigration. Chapter one, addresses how the current situation of Britain, has left us to believe if Britain is as diverse as we imagine it to be, with issues like Brexit allowing for hate crimes and discrimination. Chapter two, reflects how Britain has become home to minority communities through post war immigration and highlights the issues of low minority participation in the arts but how art can be used to sustain Indian culture. By doing so, might prevent assimilation from occurring which chapter three looks into. By looking at the work of two British Asian artists through case studies: Chila Kumari Burman and Navi Kaur, who use their practice to display culture through community and celebrate difference. As a person of British Asian heritage, the idea of identity can be difficult to define, as it is made up of multiple aspects, and two very different components, Britishness and our ancestral culture. Our culture has been carried between generations, and continued on within Britain by us and the beliefs we uphold. Due to this, it was clear what our culture consisted of. Whereas, growing up, Britishness was seen as separate to our cultural heritage and instead more of the social environment and society we had been brought up in, that allowed for certain freedoms but also different values. It is definitely important in the shifting Britain we live in today, which is moving away from multicultural, which will be discussed in the following chapter; to celebrate minorities culture, diversity and difference within society today; so, we don’t assimilate and lose our cultural identity. 3 Chapter 1 “Britishness, itself is now an increasingly fluid concept,” (Rose et al., 2013). During the last seventy years, the landscape of Britain has rapidly changed through an increase of immigration; becoming defined as a diverse and multicultural nation. Although there is uncertainty in the future of Britain and its current situation, that could leave this country becoming far from those definitions. Issues including Brexit, immigration and hate crimes, which will be addressed within this chapter. Brexit. The name given to the referendum where a high of 17,410,742 (Electoralcommission.org.uk, 2019) people in Britain voted to leave the EU in June 2016; leaving a union of countries that allow the free movement of people and free trade (BBC News, 2019). “Taking back control. The three words that encapsulated the Brexit campaign. We were preparing to cut ourselves free from the shackles of Europe” (Hamilton, 2018). As a country we no longer want to be united but isolate ourselves from our neighbours. Current Prime Minister Boris Johnson, further put emphasis on this “to take back control of our money, our borders and our laws.” (Johnson, 2019) words used which fuelled hatred and discrimination. It should come to no surprise that after the Brexit vote, figures displayed the increase in hate crime. An article from the Guardian, highlighted that “race was the factor in 76% (71,251 incidents)” (Weaver, 2018). Brexit giving an opportunity for racism and discrimination. MP David Lammy (2018), on about the hate crimes said “It comes from the very top. Divisive, xenophobic rhetoric from politicians and leaders trickles down into abuse and violence on our streets,” (Lammy, 2018). This discriminative behaviour similar to the attitudes of Britons when post war immigrants moved to this country. Many decades have passed and still communities are communicating violently who they think belongs in Britain and who does not. This selective attitude from people is like Lammy (2018) mentioned; being represented at the top with words like “Taking back control” (Hamilton, 2018) and doing so with statements of controlling borders. “Modern immigration controls are not about maintaining global stability. They reflect a desire by governments to keep out ‘unwanted’ people.” (Dodwell, 2018). Even though getting rid of borders would be better for the country, helping the economy. The future of Britain, also lies within the general election vote taking place on December 12th. Britain could be led down two very distinctive paths, one of continued austerity with the Conservatives “A government of the rich, for the rich, and by the rich, larded over with racism,” (Meadway, 2019) and another with Labour “a government for the great majority,” (Meadway, 2019), who recognises the value and positives surrounding immigration. Closing our borders, distancing ourselves from EU, restricting immigration; in uncertain times and an unclear future, it’s important to preserve, share and celebrate difference within the UK today and using art to do that is one way. 4 Chapter 2 Great influx of immigration to the UK began after World War Two, when Britain opened its borders, with the aim of immigrants to come over, to help with the shortages of labour and build up Britain’s economy. (Nationalarchives.gov.uk, 2019). The British Nationality Act, 1948 gave British citizenships to those living in the Commonwealth and the British Empire (Castles, 2009). Migration from India started in the 1950s. Indians working mainly in “Britain's factories, foundries and new public services” (BBC, n.d.). An article from the BBC, about a documentary filmed in the Midlands in 1966; reflected the experiences of immigrants and the attitudes of the community who “were furious at the influx of the thousands of foreigners” (Woods, 2016). They were not well received with Britons shutting them out, made to feel unwelcome and unable to integrate into the community. Experiencing mostly racism and discrimination. Examples such as, not allowing for Indians to go to church or even find accommodation. In one study, conducted by the University of Birmingham, found out “suggested 80% of the city's population would not let a room to any of the thousands of migrants who had come to work in Midlands factories.” (Woods, 2016). Upon arriving in Britain, the Indian community brought along their culture. Culture consisting of but not limiting to: food, fashion, music, art, religion, community, languages, tradition, beliefs, values. “Culture has been described as features that are shared and bind people together into a community.” (Bhugra and Becker, 2005) The culture that will be referred to in this essay will be around community and how art can represent Indian community. The number of minorities within the arts is low, “Black and minority ethnic people make up 17% of English arts workforce” (Brown, 2016) the findings of an Arts council England report in 2016 and the amount of participation in the arts within 2017/18, “Asian people had the lowest percentage of people who took part in the arts at 64.4%,” (Ethnicity-facts- figures.service.gov.uk, 2019). The small amounts of minorities, within both the arts and the participation of it, could suggest it effects the spreading of culture. Further on in this essay, British Indian artists Chila Kumari Burman and Navi Kaur will be discussed, who use their practice in a positive way, to celebrate culture through community and share it with the world. 5 Chapter 3 What we need to addresses at this point, if talking about keeping Indian culture alive is, what might be preventing it? Upon researching, there are many possible factors, including: other more dominant cultures within society, how the effects of empire are still embedded in society and culture, globalisation, immigration and assimilation. Although, due to limitations in words, the one that might be of most importance and will be discussed further is how other more dominant cultures are at fault. The dominant culture within the UK is White British, it has an effect on others through assimilation. Assimilation, happens when immigrants move to a different country and are persuaded “to adopt the culture, values, and social behaviors of the host nation in order to benefit from full citizenship status.” (Norwalkcc.libguides.com, 2012). In doing so, over time immigrants lose their own culture “embedded in the language, values, rituals, laws, and perhaps even religion of their homeland” making no clear difference amongst immigrants and other individuals within that society (Norwalkcc.libguides.com, 2012). As shown from the definition above, assimilation starts to takes place alongside immigration. Assimilation should not be an option. Minorites should not have to give up their identity, values, and culture just to become accepted as part of a society. An article by Kaufmann (2016), explained how, by conducting a survey and giving it to UKIP voters they changed their attitudes on immigration when they thought immigrants assimilate into British culture rather than making Britain diverse. Assimilate instead of integrate. In his survey, two of his three divided groups were given a passage to read. One was about Britain changing, becoming diverse and the second about assimilation. People who read about immigration and diversity, felt concerned compared to those who read about immigrants assimilating who felt more comfortable. “61 per cent of white working- class (C2, DE) respondents who read the diversity passage wanted immigration reduced a lot compared to 47 per cent of those who read the assimilation passage.” (Kaufmann, 2016). It demonstrates viewpoints of people agreeing with the idea of assimilation. Assimilation to preserve the dominant culture, in response and fear of becoming the minority, due to immigration and the diversity that comes alongside that.