Idō _ Movement
artwork by Athiba Balasubramanian
Striving for balance in these uncertain times with a 3rd invisible element that seems to be teaching us a lesson on priorities, life, and nature.
An inclusive independent journal with a focus on literature & art
A Note from the Editors
“The feelings that hurt most, the emotions that sting most, are those that are absurd - The longing for impossible things, precisely because they are impossible; nostalgia for what never was; the desire for what could have been; regret over not being someone else; dissatisfaction with the world’s existence. All these half-tones of the soul’s consciousness create in us a painful landscape, an eternal sunset of what we are.”
Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet
Welcome to the third volume of The Open Culture Collective.
Despite being caught up in a pursuit for normalcy in the early days of 2021, we found ourselves seeking old comforts and longing for the discreet vigours of creative pursuits. With a second wave approaching at frightening pace, boundaries closing once again, and restrictions on movement and travel, we were not alone in our yearning for times gone by. Writers, artists and photographers, from places we dream to visit in better times and those a stone's throw away, have shown us how connected the human experience can be.
We thought our theme for this issue would be the perfect expression of our collective emotional states. "Saudade", a profound melancholic longing for something that may never be had again. It has allowed us to explore writing and art in a profound and personal level thus far uncharted, and presents an honest and veracious chronicle of our mutual vulnerabilities.
If there's a place you miss, a love you have lost, or a person no longer with you, we hope you find comfort in these pages — for they contain all the sensations that have equally tormented and brought joy to those of us like you.
Thank you for your continued trust and encouragement. We hope you are safe and sound wherever you are in the world.
Jasmitha Arvind
Rashmi S
Meghna Anil Nair
