The exhibition explores how music and film have helped shape identity
A free exhibition exploring South Asian music, memories and cultural experiences is currently on display at Gateshead Central Library.
Playback/Rewind: South Asian Sound & Memory forms part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the GemArts Masala Festival.
The exhibition explores how music and film have helped shape identity and belonging for generations of people with roots across South Asia.
Running until October 10, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the sounds and cultural experiences that connect South Asian communities across Britain.
Artist Jimmy Turrell has created work for the exhibition, drawing inspiration from Bollywood records, printed ephemera and personal stories from South Asian communities.
His work explores the relationship between sound, memory and visual culture, highlighting how familiar songs and cultural references can remain meaningful across generations.
For many South Asian families, music has played an important role in maintaining connections with heritage and family history.
Songs from Bollywood films can evoke memories of weddings, family gatherings, festivals and childhood, while records and other forms of printed media can provide a connection to earlier generations.
The exhibition looks at these connections through a wider exploration of South Asian popular culture.
The exhibition shows how music and film can become part of people’s identities, particularly for communities living away from their countries or regions of heritage.
The display also reflects the diverse experiences of South Asian communities in Britain.
Rather than focusing solely on music as entertainment, Playback/Rewind considers the emotional and cultural significance attached to sounds and memories.
The exhibition is part of GemArts’ programme celebrating 10 years of the Masala Festival.
The annual festival celebrates South Asian arts and culture across the North East, bringing together artists, performers and audiences through a range of events.
The Gateshead exhibition adds to those celebrations by creating a space where visitors can explore the role of music and popular culture in shaping personal and collective memories.
Its focus on shared experiences also highlights the way cultural traditions can continue to evolve within British South Asian communities.
Visitors can see the exhibition at Gateshead Central Library until October 10.
With its combination of artwork, music and personal stories, the exhibition offers an opportunity to consider how sounds from the past can continue to influence people’s sense of identity and belonging today.
As the GemArts Masala Festival marks its 10th anniversary, Playback/Rewind provides a timely reflection on the cultural memories that have helped shape South Asian life in Britain.
