Kathryn PenderWhat an absolute honour it was to be invited to paint live on stage alongside Bengali Performing Arts Glasgow and the incredibly talented Manomay Bhattacharya on the 7th September 20205. The evening was a heartfelt celebration of the life and legacy of Kazi Nazrul Islam – a towering figure in Bengali literature and music – through a rich blend of music, dance, spoken word, and visual art.
I had the privilege of creating an artistic response to Manomay’s performance, painting live on stage as my brushes moved in rhythm with the evocative vocals and music. It was a moment where boundaries between art forms dissolved, blending music and visual art, and bridging the borders of Bengali and Scottish culture.
The music beautifully recreated the central themes of Nazrul’s work: love, unity, rebellion, and our shared humanity. Each brushstroke on my canvas was a response to this, my colours soaring with the melodies, grounded by the rhythms, and stirred by the emotional depth of the performance.
In my painting, land, sky, and water came together to symbolise peace and unity. The colours flowed upward from the earth to the heavens, mirroring a journey of hope and connection. Shades of yellow swept in with the warmth from the music, embracing all who listened. These golden tones speak of love and inclusion, while green connects the piece back to the land and its people. Vivid reds, inspired by Nazrul’s defiant spirit, coursed through the composition in powerful high notes. Symbols of strength, resistance, and the transformative power of art.
This original painting, created live during the performance, is available for a limited time on my site at a special post-performance price.
A heartfelt thank you to the entire team at Bengali Performing Arts Glasgow for welcoming me into this incredible collaboration. It was a joy to be part of such a powerful tribute, and I can’t wait to witness the continued evolution of your inspiring work.
