‘Class 2 recently took an exciting trip to SOAS University of London, where we had the unique opportunity to learn how to play as part of a Gamelan, a traditional musical ensemble from Indonesia made up of gongs, metallophones, and drums. Guided by an enthusiastic and expert instructor who had 38 years of experience, we explored the rich cultural heritage behind the music while trying out various instruments. I had the chance to play the two large gongs, a powerful and symbolic experience that felt like connecting to the heartbeat of the Gamelan, grounding the entire ensemble with deep, resounding tones. The session was both educational and fun, encouraging teamwork, active listening, and an appreciation for different musical traditions and culture. It was a memorable experience that brought the sounds of Southeast Asia to life!’
Selin (C2RV)
‘As well as making Gamelan compositions, we also went to the exhibition at SOAS called “(Un)Layering the future past of South Asia: Young artists’ voices” made up of 26 young artists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Afghanistan. This exhibition was amazing. I loved all the different art pieces, but my favourite was probably Hadi Tahnaward’s Fragile Balance. This artist created a rug out of just coloured matches – and some parts of the rug where a footprint was imprinted to symbolising the ongoing violence of his home country, Afghanistan. I think I liked this piece of artwork the most because of how unique it was made and how he was able to make such a creative masterpiece in such extreme conditions. I would recommend going to a SOAS Exhibition to see all the different pieces of artwork and all the different showcases on display, especially if you want to know more about different cultures!’
Aarya (C2RV)
