The iconic figures Charlie Chaplin and Mr Bean have brought laughter and joy to millions of lives and successfully left a lasting impression in their hearts through their craft. The world continues to remember and praise these legends for proving that art transcends cultural and language boundaries.
Similarly, Reinier Sijpkens is a world-renowned Dutch artist who constantly strives to bring people together through his art. With his unique comedy skits and music performances, he has charmed audiences across different continents and age groups.
This month, Sijpkens brought his distinct blend of play and music to Goa through the The Silly Spectacle as part of Homo Ludens: The Art of Play, an initiative of the Museum of Goa (MOG), Pilerne and LaLa Foundation, Amsterdam.
The initiative explores the profound impact of play on human life through a cross-cultural dialogue between India and the Netherlands.
COLLABORATION WITH MOG
“This collaboration is really possible because of Noreen Van Holstein, the co-founder of LaLa Foundation. She invited us to Goa because she knows my work in Amsterdam,” mentioned Sijpkens when asked about the cross-cultural project.
As part of this initiative, Sijpkens and his wife, Ingeborg Vandaal, wanted to do something for the children of Goa. They chose Chetna School of Children with Disabilities in Curchorem for a special performance.
“If you go to every continent, country, or village—whether rich or poor, healthy or sick—all children respond the same way to playfulness,” said Sijpkens.
“Children are so pure; their reactions are consistent,” added Vandaal.
Sijpkens also mentioned, “Interestingly, we performed some tricks for taxi drivers while traveling in Goa, and they reacted just like the little children.”
ART, A CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUE
Sijpkens' The Silly Spectacle was all about breaking barriers and bringing joy to people. The performance also introduced specific Dutch elements to the Goan audience, including the Polonaise, a famous dance.
“Play is part of our identity. This performance is about sharing joy together and introducing instruments we did not know about previously, along with magic tricks that spark joy and surprise. That's why the element of play is the focus of Homo Ludens: The Art of Play,” said Sijpkens.
Sijpkens believes that art is a fundamental element in striving for global peace. While discussing the importance of art to human culture, he remembered Winston Churchill's response to someone wanting to skip theatres and music during the Second World War, “This is what we fight for. This is the reason why we fight the war.”
GOA AND ITS CHARM
“Goa is one big surprise. When you're from the Netherlands, you're more or less in a dream, and that's true. My dreams seem ordinary than my experiences here,” said Sijpkens while discussing his and his wife’s Goa trip, which also happens to be their honeymoon.
Emphasising the hospitable nature of Goans, he said, “I find everyone in India and Goa so friendly. Everybody is a host in their own country, and this is especially dominant in Goa's atmosphere. They're also humble and nice.”
Sijpkens said that their trip has been full of adventure and surprises. When asked about places in Goa he’d like to visit he said, “Well, I would like to see maybe an island on a little boat once in Goa. We might go on a little boat trip from Baga beach as we saw a lot of beautiful boats there.”
“Yesterday, we saw a very old man and lady who were around 90 years old. We saw them and we said to each other that we should come here another 25 years into our marriage. We would love that to happen, and then we will say, well, do you remember we were walking here?” said Sijpkens on a parting note.