Lullaby for a storm, 2008

Interview by Lena Eriksson at Womanifesto Residency. Nov 08

Although Varsha Nair was not a participating artist in the Womanifesto Residency, 2008, in her words "but still, as an artist, work happens, and it happens quite spontaneously." Here, Varsha speaks about how the video project Lullaby for a Storm arose amongst the daily activities during surrounding the residencies, and the poignant moments that can occur amongst the fear of instability and polarisation.

In an artist statement Varsha reflects:

"As a political rally by PAD party being held in Bangkok to oust the government in power is being watched on TV by the elders of the farm in a remote north eastern part of Thailand, the growing unrest in the country starts to impact on daily life and two worlds, the personal and the political, the urban and the rural, collide.

Three puppies are missing after a violent rainstorm in the night. Their mother is anxiously searching for them. Small insects have gnawed through the black silk thread warp on Mae Pan’s loom as she slept. She is carefully knotting the broken ends together. Along with the rally blaring on TV, these are the other interruptions in the daily rhythm of life that occupies our minds as a lullaby is sung to soothe little Jumong to sleep."