A Touch of Zeniko at Durgotsav

Red mural on a white wall shows a trident, drum, dancers, and temple; artist paints on the right. ZENIKO CREATIVES

Bright lights. Red splashed across garlands, motif-adorned bunting, and velvet stage flooring. As a sculpture of Goddess Durga was carefully positioned on stage, the Durgotsav celebrations organised by Singapore Coastal Connect (SiCCon) were gradually coming to life.

Amidst the preparations, the resonant sound of a conch shell echoed through the venue. Tucked away in a humble corner, our team from Zeniko Creatives Art Academy skilfully navigated brushes dipped in red paint across a stretch of white wall.

Celebrated across India, particularly in its eastern and northeastern regions, Durgotsav honours Goddess Durga and her triumph over evil. Deeply rooted in Bengali culture, the festival extends beyond religious devotion to embrace artistic expression, cultural heritage, and community spirit. In Singapore, organisations such as SiCCon bring these traditions to life, creating opportunities for communities to come together in celebration.

"This year, Zeniko was given the wonderful opportunity to contribute an art mural to SiCCon's Durgotsav celebrations. Beyond showcasing our artistic talents, we sought to commemorate the occasion through a contemporary expression of Bengali tradition.

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Behind the scenes: The Zeniko Creatives team of teachers and students bringing the Durga Puja mural to life through 11 hours of creativity, collaboration and artistic passion.

Conceived by our founder, the mural brought together elements of Bengali cultural and religious heritage: the trishul associated with Goddess Durga, women holding traditional lamps, a conch shell, and a magnificent dhak at the centre of the composition, evoking the rhythmic sounds of the festivities. Traditional Bengali motifs adorned the lower border, while the prominent use of red further reflected the festival's cultural character.

Together, these elements transformed a 128 sq ft stretch of white wall into a vibrant tribute to Bengali heritage, where longstanding traditions found a new canvas through contemporary acrylic brushstrokes.

With dedication and meticulous attention to detail, our team worked tirelessly to bring this artistic vision to life, transforming a blank wall into a vibrant celebration of Bengali heritage. Coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, our artists had a unique opportunity to discover and appreciate traditions through the very art they were creating. Despite the demands of the painting process, the experience proved both enriching and fulfilling.

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"A particularly memorable moment was the opportunity to present our mural to Ms Sudhi Choudhary, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Singapore. Sharing our artistic contribution with her, and seeing it appreciated as part of such a meaningful cultural celebration, made the experience all the more rewarding.

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Sharing the inspiration behind our Durga Puja mural with distinguished guests at SICCON, a proud moment for Zeniko Creatives Art Academy, where art, heritage and community come together.

Beyond the finished mural, this collaboration reminded us of art's remarkable ability to bring people together, bridging cultural boundaries while honouring the traditions that make each community unique.

We are grateful to Singapore Coastal Connect (SiCCon) for the opportunity to contribute to Durgotsav, and to our team for bringing this celebration of culture and creativity to life, one brushstroke at a time!