‘Performance Festival’, and my personal reflection on the meaning of arts

28 April 2025

Visiting Victoria and Albert Museum is always inspiring, immersed in the oceans of diverse artworks represented from different historical contexts and various geographical regions. Textiles, pottery, metalworks, religious ornaments, statues, musical instruments, furniture, paintings, photographs, whatever they are, you would be in awe at the amazing levels of artistry imprinted in each displayed item. You would simply be impressed by imagining the lives of those creative and skilful people from the past, as well as present.

With V&A celebrating ‘Performance Festival’ starting from the 25th of April, my husband and I enjoyed their programme on Sunday 27th April, especially the projects featuring dance. The live performance of ‘Māyā’ by Vidya Patel transported us to a sensual imagery of narrative through Kathak-influenced movements, while the film screening of ‘The Principles of Classical Dance’ by Balletboyz incited our imagination behind ballet photography through experimental choreographies.

Appreciating the enchanting events in the beautiful architecture of V&A, I couldn’t help recalling the past few months when my husband became seriously ill. 

Apparently I couldn’t afford to enjoy the arts when such a threatening incident happened. Having huge anxieties, it plummeted my spirits in general, and I was almost converted to the conventional view seeing the arts as mere luxury, i.e. not essential in our lives. Compared to the urgency and severity of the matter, what was the point of doing arts? I even regretted trying to be an artist myself. Obviously his recovery became my utmost priority.

While visiting him in hospital every day, I saw different nurses and doctors who looked after him. I observed how skillfully they changed his sheets, gowns, cannulas, plasters etc., how they wiped his body, how well they looked after and cared for him as well as other patients. There are certain established, educated ways to make the procedures as smooth as possible, as comfortable for the patients as possible, and the body movements of good nurses even looked elegant. That is their ‘art’ with which they enable their patients to recover.

When my husband began to regain energy, still bedridden, the first things he asked me to bring from home were his digital tablet and its pen - he was desperate to draw. He wanted to be creative again. He needed the arts and that's how he wanted to fight back, not just physically but also mentally and culturally. The arts are, after all, essential for him.

He also didn't want me to give up on arts. He encouraged me to still go to teach classes and give shows, so I did them on the basis of his steady recovery.

Currently he is out of hospital and, thankfully, he has started to enjoy his cultural life again, which brought us to the event at V&A.

Enjoying our artistic experience at the beautiful museum, I strongly sensed that arts are our way of exploring the worlds, both external and internal. A variety of art forms, different styles and numerous methods are creations through our attempts to respond to such worlds. Our artistic expressions flourish, differentiating as well as interconnecting our individualities. 

Just like we are inspired by other people from the past and present, our arts could also potentially inspire the future generations. We’re weaved and interconnected in a flow made of cultural legacies and treasures. It's a blessing.

The arts are how we want to live - with the basis of health, of course. ‘Performance Festival’ at V&A made me feel grateful for the arts again. It was indeed an inspirational weekend. 

Performance Festival 2025 (until 4th May)

https://www.vam.ac.uk/festival/2025/performance-festival-2025