|
|
|
| |
| |
Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
July 12, 2005
|
|
| site design imagesparkle.com |
| October 11, 2003 |
Peace and the Arts – Olivier Urbain |
|
| |
 |
| Olivier Urbain |
The role of art in conflict transformation is broad and deep, creative and positive, as well as underestimated, if considered at all in confronting all kinds of conflict. To help us understand the wealth of tools art presents to those working with conflict, guest speaker and director of the Transcend Art and Peace Network Olivier Urbain joined Peace Boat from Singapore to Sri Lanka to introduce the role of art in conflict and peace, theory and practice. The point of departure into the theory of conflict and peace was an easy-to-digest introduction to the Transcend approach to conflict transformation, developed by Dr. Johan Galtung. The fundamental principle is that a conflict between two parties does not only have to result in the victory of one and a loss for the other, or a 50-50 compromise at best. Rather, introducing principles of non-violence, empathy and creativity, a solution can be reached which fulfills the goals of both sides. In other words, conflict is not only a time when regression takes place; it is also an opportunity to construct and create more than the parties in conflict originally recognized. |
|
|
 |
| Led by volunteer participant Mikako, a young group of singers belts out "The Price of Oil" |
It was a recent song by Billy Bragg called "The Price of Oil," sung by a group of about 20 young participants that introduced the direct relation of artistic expression to the theories of peace and conflict summarized above. Approaching conflict with art is like approaching a broken engine with a big box of tools; knowing how to use the tools can repair an engine quickly, even making it better than before.
The functions of art in conflict are many. Using musical expression can inspire more people to think critically about an issue, such as the war in Iraq as described in Bragg's song, than would an academic report or lecture. Or in the case of the NGO Mladi Most, located in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, youth from both the Muslim and Christian sides of the community employ various arts like sculpture and photography to develop expression and communication skills, especially relating to events in the past. As the youth at Mladi Most have said plainly, to speak openly about the violence they and their community experienced in the 1990's is still too difficult. If peace can be understood to be not the absence of conflict, but rather the creative and constructive handling of conflict, art can easily be utilized as a means to develop the creativity needed to maximize the opportunities that arise during conflict. |
| |
 |
| A dance group performing recently in the center of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
The ideas shared between Olivier and Peace Boat participants helped us understand more clearly the role our own ongoing programs have in our exchange and education programs in the ports we visit, as well as how to develop new programs. Particularly inspired were members of the SPACE (Share Peace Art Culture Energy) project program. Participants use various form of interactive dance, music and other art performances to overcome language or cultural barriers with the local people in ports we visit, whether in Africa, Europe, Asia or the Americas. Their experience constitutes both an expression of their desires of better relations and a learning experience, all the more energized by the art and peace program facilitated by Olivier. |
| |
|
|
|
