‘Exhibition of self-discovery’ featuring teachings of Sikh gurus to be held in Glasgow
Image by Without Shape Without Form YouTube Channel
Conceived by arts organisation WSWF, and supported by Arts Council, Journey of the Mind is a volunteer-led exhibition that will be open to the public in Glasgow from 6 to 23 October at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. It brings Sikh teachings and heritage to a contemporary context to spark conversations and encourage exchange.
Going beyond racial and religious boundaries, this exhibition, which was initially conceived in Slough through a permanent exhibition open to the public, aims to evoke a sense of curiosity about the internal journey of the mind and its positive effects on people’s lives.
After the Covid pandemic hit, the team soon realised the effect it had on people and decided to tour the exhibition, enabling people to understand the teachings of Sikhism and its gurus for the world, and pave a journey of healing.
JOTM explores the texts of the Sikh teachers and how, through these, the journey to understand the mind begins. And how the mind battles against negative forces within, to find peace in troubled times through focused practice, community, and selfless service.
The artwork, which is a tool to explore factors concerning mental health issues, features digital painting and text which took two-and-a-half years to write. It talks about several topics that people from different walks of life can relate to. According to the people behind the exhibition, it is the text that makes it so unique, engrossing and beautiful.
The tour began in November 2021 in at the prestigious Library of Birmingham, collaborating with the Ikon gallery, Midlands Art Centre, and The Rep – attracting a wonderful array of audiences. People spent hours at the exhibition with some of them unable to help but get emotional and many of them came back to experience it all over again.
The overwhelmingly positive response in Birmingham led the team to introduce and conduct workshops, where the would talk about Simran – referring to the continuous remembrance of the finest aspect of the self, and/or the continuous remembrance (or feeling) of God.
Before the exhibition opening at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, the team also set up a mini-exhibition and conducted workshops in Dundee as well as Tramway, an arts venue in Glasgow.
A football tournament is also set to take place, where different schools will compete against each other. The tournament will also include an insightful talk about mental health and portraits of all the participant will be taken and put up in Kelvingrove.
The event, held in association with several mental health organisations, will include something for everyone to get involved in. Apart from the workshops, which will also be held during the exhibition at Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, adults and children will also find themselves getting immersed in various creative activities.
To attend the Journey of the Mind exhibition and find out more about the event, visit: withoutshapewithoutform.com