VAST Bhutan would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their ever lasting support and commitment towards the development of artistic talents of the young people of Bhutan.
This special Art workshop would not have been possible without the concerted effort and support from them:
- The Royal Thai Consulate for visa/air ticket/refreshment
- Bhutan Foundation for their guest house and dinner
- Lama Canteen for lunch
- Yudruk Tours and Treks for transportation
- Bhutan Birding & Heritage Tours for transportation
- Bhutan Gateways Tours for transportation
- Choki Traditional Art School, Kabisa for lunch
- Aum Sonam Om and Peter for dinner and drinks
- Ama Om and Bobo for dinner
- Ama Gaki and Kuenga for dinner and drinks
- Ama Bidha and Apa Dorji for camp dinner and breakfast
- Yeshey Tshering BHT for coaster bus art tour to Trongsa
- Mink of Baan Thai for lunch and dinner
- Mr. Dilu Giri, Hotel Druk for lunch
- Mr. Jimmy and Dekila, Musk for lunch
- Mr. Pema Nadik for lunch
- Mr. Dominic, Mandala for lunch
- Garab Dorji and Mam Namgay for transportation
- Phurba Thinley and Mam Pema for dinner/breakfast
- Passang Tobgay’s inlaws in Trongsa for dinner
- Mahesh Tamang for lunch
- Sukbir Biswa for dinner
- Asha kama and Mam Kueron for dinner and breakfasts
- All VAST volunteers for their efforts and commitments
- Dr. Suchart and Sompote for their wonderful teaching
Mutual Smiles
-By Rajesh
“Is there going to be a show?”, a boy asked. People thronged, awaiting entertainment. The VAST members answered questioning pedestrians, hiding mounting irritation and pressure; half an hour and we were still hammering away, as Bhutanese are wont to, working till the umpteenth second before the big show, a show the Bhutanese had never seen. “Grand Mutual Smiles”, our invitation and we announced, a state of the art installation. People nodded, grinned or shook their head.
“There!”, a boy pointed at himself on the screen. His friends exclaimed. An old guy smiled into the camera, unblinking in spite of the glare of the two lights. He put his two hands together, one still holding his prayer beads, as he would at a temple and worded, “I am an old man”, a hello to his Austrian counterparts, who would smile at this weathered face. A group of kids had their busiest days of their lives. They would visit Piere’s installation and shout-sing into the mike, eyes glued to the patterns on the screen, set off by the sound generated. Taking their turns here, they would rush off to the main black room, where they would slither through the crowd to grin into the camera again!.
Old, young, toddlers, policemen, visitors, monks, entire families. Entertainment for all. That was the “Grand Mutual Smiles” project. For once, there was no dancing, no singing, no celebrity to draw a crowd. There were smiles aplenty. If you are reading this (and in Thimphu), be sure to walk to the clock tower and send a smile across the world.
Having a little fun during the preparation of the launch.
Pierre explaining the Grand Mutual Smiles to an impressive gathering of high profile guests during the launch.
H.R.H. Princess Chhimi Yangzom Wangchuck looks on as the Opposition Leader sings to trigger off a voice activated pattern generator, another digital installation art by Pierre.
Hello Austria.
Taking down the installation was as much fun and putting it up.
>> More pictures on flickr.
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Other Stories related to the opening of the “Grand Mutual Smile”
>> Kuenselonline
>> www.tsheringtobgay.com
>> www.80plus1.org