Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | July 13
When four young Nagas were chosen to be part of the 3-day Vladivostok Rock (V-Rox) Festival in June this year, it also meant they were creating food, art and music in a foreign land, giving to Russia a taste of Nagaland that is uniquely creative.
Self-taught artists- Vineizotuo Tase and Khrisaviku Sachu created a 60x30 ft wall mural of a Siberian Tiger which has been the official symbol of the Primorsky Krai since the times of the Russian Empire while Chef Salangyanger Jamir was placed in an Indian themed restaurant, treating Russians to Naga delicacies cooked and garnished with Naga ingredients, and Inavito Kavito Zhimomi (DJ Ina) participated in the music component wherein artists from other countries such as China, France, Japan, and Glasgow Scotland also took part in.
This is the second initiative of the Rattle and Hum Foundation in line with its vision to uplift and promote other art forms besides music. The first was the Master Art Workshop held early this year, enabling 3 Naga artists to visit Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Hong Kong. The recently conducted trip to Russia was sponsored by the Nagaland Tourism Department and led by the Deputy Director, Keduosieu Metha and Neingulie Nakhro of Rattle & Hum Foundation.
Taking about the experience, Neingulie Nakhro said the Russians took very good care of them and extended their hospitality to the extent of providing an interpreter for each one of them. They were accommodated at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok during their stay there. Concerning the mural art, he said, “we were also concerned about whether it was accurate from every angle.” This was positively received as they were very happy about the proportion, the colour and everything. Many people were also seen taking photographs against the background.
Vineizotuo Tase and Khrisaviku Sachu’s recent work of the Amur/Siberian Tiger- that strikingly adorns a wall in Downtown, Vladivostok- comes as a form of recognition of their many years of pursuing art. The duo travelled to Russia few days prior to the Festival to finish the artwork, before it officially kick-started. It took them 12 working hours each of 4 days to complete the work.
The duo are members of Project 72, a community based organization that is known for its noble initiative in beautifying Kohima town by engaging in street art and town cleaning. Talking about their recent experience, Vineizotuo Tase said, “We were initially asked to do some layouts of our own tradition where we did about 10 including that of traditional warriors, spears, traditional dance, etc.” The City Council later settled for the Amur Tiger, he informed. Besides getting to brush shoulders with artists from countries like Australia, France and St. Petersburg, he further expressed that, “It’s a different world out there. It was really good!”
His obsession with art, as he confesses, goes a long way back even as he brings to mind artworks he has done in the past and affirms that, “every painting I make, I give everything into it.” Today, many of his artworks, which he has done as part of the Project 72 are found in the streets of Mon, Kiphire, Dimapur and Kohima. During Hornbill Festival 2016, one of his works of a wrinkled Naga elder of the Konyak Tribe was also bought by a British tourist.
Vineizotuo Tase has also been part of several art workshops and exhibitions across India in places such as Bangalore, Allahabad, and Orissa. He is currently looking forward to be part of a workshop in Himachal Pradesh this July where he will be presenting his works.
His fellow artist- Khrisaviku Sachu is also self-taught and is especially skilled in graphic designing. Mention may also be made here that DJ Ina is one of the first DJs in Nagaland while Salangyanger Jamir is also the winner of the Naga Chef Season 3, 2015.
