Chatting with everyone

Shiva has been on the stage of the Moving Arts Project (MAP) in the Transvaal neighborhood since 2012. What started with his first steps as an actor became a place where he speaks to local residents aged 0 to 100. This year, MAP literally put ‘intermediaries’ on a pedestal. We spoke with Shiva on the terrace of Karima’s Caravan at Krugerplein about connection, patience, and his neighborhood.

“I am 25 and live in Amsterdam-East. I am a specialized pedagogical employee and I still occasionally work at the after-school care, but I am now mainly involved with the Moving Arts Project.” MAP creates challenging community arts from the heart of the neighborhood, and the terrace where we are sitting is part of it: a place for meeting and culture. “We want to literally and figuratively move people,” says Shiva. “Connection through imagination.”

“I came into contact with MAP many years ago, in 2012 to be precise. I have been active here from the beginning. The Transvaal neighborhood really needed something: there were many youths hanging around and there was violence. There was nothing to do. MAP really filled that gap.” It’s really about the dialogue between people here. “That is also my main work: having conversations with many different people.”

I think this is the most beautiful.

“You can meet everyone here. From 0 to 100 years old, people with a lot of money and people who struggle to make ends meet, and sometimes also people with a mental or physical disability or need for assistance. What I learn from this volunteer work is mainly patience and understanding. The work suits me very well: I always have a listening ear, I am there for the people, everyone can turn to me. The best part of this volunteer work for me is my colleagues. That is what I find the most beautiful.”

Stuck in the Middle: intermediaries on a pedestal

Every year, MAP creates a small or large theater project in a city square. This year it is ‘Stuck in the Middle’, about intermediaries. The images are currently at the district office. “There are all 3D statues of intermediaries on a pedestal. Intermediaries are actually people who seek connections with individuals from closed groups. In this time of polarization and closed bubbles, intermediaries are very important.” With the pedestals, MAP aims to spark the discussion about the importance of connection, not only through visual art but also through theater, music, dance, singing, and musicals.

Let the day counts

Shiva really enjoys acting. “I have realized that the acting world is very strict when it comes to admission. That’s why I am happy that I can gain my experience in acting at MAP and who knows what else might come from that.”

Shiva laughs: “It is important to look beyond the space and the sun. My motto is ‘Don’t count the days, let the day count’. My dream is to have a good and happy family, that there is good health for me and my loved ones, and I really want to make a difference in my neighborhood.”

Shiva points around: “This is my neighborhood and if I can do something for it, then I really find that very nice.”

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Interview: Thecla Groot Koerkamp
Photos: Kitty de Jong