instant calmer
Heidi and Hannah
This week’s show seemed a very quiet affair, in the best possible way. An air of benignity pervaded the studio originating I know not where. Before you could say ‘mustn’t grumble’ the day seemed to have become one of unflappable harmony. Mismis Tshaba (he was born in the Belgian Congo and grew up in Germany- you’ll only be able to confirm your suspicions of how that might sound by listening to the show) is a thoroughly agreeable fellow, whilst being larger than life too. It’s clear that he is frustrated by the marked lack of amiability amongst British folk (I wonder if he means Londoners. I recently spoke to some trans-Atlantic travellers who opined that even New Yorkers, famous for their abrasive manner are considerably warmer than
Mismis Tshaba
the average Londoner.) Something Mismis said off mic caught my imagination. ‘I’m in customer service’ he said, ‘I provide a service. If customers don’t like the service I provide than I have to provide a better one.’ This is a view I haven’t heard expressed before. In my mind’s ear (where’s that?) I can hear a chorus of horrified artists voicing everything from outrage to scorn that that could be a valid viewpoint. But why not? It’s quite easy, usually, to identify where, say, politics and art overlap, or to understand in very close detail the degree to which art and therapy cover similar ground; increasingly however, I find myself interested in that part of the Venn where art and entertainment become the same thing. My impression is that, perhaps because so much financing depends on being able to prove one’s worthiness along a set of social engineering guidelines, it’s somewhat distasteful and injudicious to represent what one is doing as being for the sake of mere pleasure. I think I’m going to develop this thesis and see whether it holds water. Any element of cynicism I might be feeling is washed away by remembering the conversation with Soheila Keyani, who is simply delightful. She facilitates art, looks at clouds and believes in encouragement,
Painting by Soheila Keyani
a word she used as a mantra. It’s clear it’s something she feels passionate about: when I asked her about the creative classes she runs (my question was how do you foster creativity in people who don’t normally do creative things?) her eyes lit up and she launched into a long and energetic assertion that everyone has creativity in them- they just need to be given the chance to access that part of themselves. My favourite comment from Soheila,
Soheila Keyani
regarding clouds, was that the sky is like one giant, free picture gallery. As I am writing this blog I am looking up at what I would normally perceive as a solid grey sky and seeing that there is actually much more texture and subtlety to it than that, pulsing areas of light. An exhibition indeed. Heidi Rustgaard and Hanna Gillgren are the directors of H2 Dance and their upcoming project is to get groups of people singing. The interview was, as I commented to them, one of the most efficient we’ve done on the show, nearly no editing required. Interesting guests, positive news, some great ideas and all without a script. Then blow me down, our multi-track recording system threw a grenade into the general calm and collapsed on us. So for all our easiness this week’s show eventually didn’t go out.
