Unveiling the Emergent Space of Being and Doing: The Power of Expressive Arts Work in Fostering Social Cohesion

By Gopika Dahanukar, Director, Swahansa Expressive Arts India

Let us in 

Let us enter, you and I 
In the dust of our sweet winding path
Through the door 
that has now opened
For the road given has been shy
That awaits us in our uncanny eye.

Let us stay there, you and I
For the spring and summer of the night
Mirroring the scents 
in the luminous flowers
Revising the colour of tales untold  
Lived in their long blossoming hours.

Let us arrive, you and I
Into the wild notes reaching us
from our wide listening hearts
Daring to dance 
on our mind's flattened attire
Taken in by the quiet blue song
draped in our rising inner fire.

Let us leave, you and I
Swallowed by the arts
our bodies clear as crystal water
Invisible wings made visible 
carrying our life's poem alive
Let us leave, enter, stay there 
and arrive.

~ Gopika

In today's complex and uncertain world, individuals and communities are facing profound challenges that call into question their identities, connections, and sense of purpose. This period of global crisis has sparked collective introspection, urging us to reconsider how we navigate the world—our actions as individuals and as part of a larger collective. Through this introspective journey, we have begun to recognize the transformative potential inherent in limitations, pushing us to explore new avenues for personal growth and societal unity.

One such avenue is the Expressive Arts work that invites us to connect with our creative spirit and expand our creative beingness, embracing the unique essence of our creativity, nurturing it, and letting it flourish. At the heart of expressive arts work lies the understanding that human consciousness is intrinsically creative. It's not just about creative expression but also about embodying a mindset that values imagination, curiosity, beauty, and expression in all aspects of our lives. The concept of 'Being' encompasses moments of contemplation, mindfulness, and heightened awareness—an openness to the unfolding realities and the fundamental needs they reveal. Conversely, 'Doing' involves purposeful actions that stem from this state of 'Being,' shaping our identities and responsibilities as responsive beings.

Central to this endeavour is the recognition that creative artefacts serve as bridges for new knowledge and shared understanding. Through immersive arts-based engagements, participants are encouraged to traverse the threshold between 'being' and 'doing,' tapping into their roles as both recipients and contributors within a broader social context. Themes such as presence and process guide these expressive encounters, providing participants with a platform to articulate their lived experiences and collective narratives.

In a humanistic, philosophical, and sociocultural framework, this work aims to illuminate the intricate interplay between individual introspection and collective action, moving beyond passive observation to actively engage with the world around us. Rooted in a phenomenological perspective, my practice in Auroville, India is drawn to expressive arts in peace-building (human unity), exploring these intertwined realms of creative experience and social cohesion. This invitation mirrors a dynamic process of synthesis and deconstruction, weaving together diverse perspectives into cohesive artistic expressions. The resulting artworks, born from collective experiences and reflections, transcend predetermined designs, embodying the raw essence of lived encounters and shared narratives.

Through this fusion of artistic inquiry and social reflection, we envision a transformative outcome with intrinsic social value. By harnessing the power of expressive arts work, individuals and communities can articulate their collective experiences, aspirations, and challenges, fostering deeper connections and a sense of shared humanity amidst adversity.

In essence, this encapsulates a profound exploration of self-discovery and communal resonance for me, blurring the boundaries between 'being' and 'doing,' and giving rise to transformative narratives that resonate on both personal and societal levels. I believe it is through these creative dialogues that we illuminate the path towards greater understanding, empathy, and cohesion in our evolving world.

Gopika Dahanukar is an artist, a vocalist and a registered therapeutic expressive arts counsellor. She is the Founder and Director of Swahansa Expressive Arts India, a cooperating partner Institute of EGS, teaching in Mumbai and Auroville, an international township in South India based on the ideal of human unity. She is also a trustee of the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, a non-profit organisation that is leading the way in supporting emerging artists and progressive social action through the arts in India.