The News National
Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), in collaboration with Weavers Studio Resource Centre, is delighted to present Apar-Kaya, a compelling performance by the acclaimed dancer Shashwati Garai Ghosh. As the culminating event of the landmark exhibition Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy, this performance weaves together dance, history, and textile traditions in a deeply evocative retelling of myth and memory.
At the heart of Apar-Kaya lies the story of Vedvati, her unfulfilled destiny, and her ultimate transformation—an allegory entwined with the weavers’ craft. The loom’s rigid threads evoke Vedavati’s trials, while the emerging cloth, resilient yet soft, mirrors Sita. The performance unfolds across dual timelines, bridging the past and present, as Vedavati’s journey of vengeance gives way to revelation, reframing ideas of morality and strength.
Apar-Kaya finds deep resonance in Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy, which unfolds four centuries of fabric traditions and global entanglements and the storied textile legacy of Bengal unto the world through histories of migration, commerce, and cultural exchange. The synergy between the exhibition and the performance is profound. Just as Bengal’s textiles are imprinted with layers of time, carrying the stories of those who spun, wove, and adorned them, Apar-Kaya too unravels the entanglements of history and identity. The narrative of Vedavati and Sita becomes an allegory not only of resilience and re-imagination but also of the fluid nature of artistic expression—where bodies, like textiles, become vessels of memory and transformation.
KCC takes immense pride in hosting this remarkable confluence of dance and textile history. Partnering with Weavers Studio Resource Centre, a longstanding custodian of Bengal’s textile traditions, has allowed for an immersive exploration of Bengal’s artistic and material culture. As the exhibition draws to a close, Apar-Kaya stands as its poetic epilogue—an embodied testament to the endurance of heritage, craft, and storytelling.
About Kolkata Centre for Creativity: Kolkata Centre for Creativity is a multidisciplinary interactive art center based in Kolkata. As a unit of the Anamika Kala Sangam Trust, a not-for-profit public trust, it promotes research experimentation while championing inclusivity accessibility at the intersection of arts and society. Led by Chairperson Richa Agarwal, KCC is dedicated to socially responsible programming that integrates diverse creative and cultural practices. Through curated initiatives, we offer arts and culture collaborative efforts, education, research, support, mentorships, and programs for children and DEAI
