International Collaborations We Wish Were Possible

Have you ever wondered how it would be if a Bangladeshi artist could have their album cover designed by Tekashi Murakami? Or maybe a graphic novel done by Neil Gaiman and Ahsan Habib? Perhaps even a musical collaboration between Arnob and A.R. Rahman?

In the contemporary era of pop culture, the lines of diversity are celebrated and embraced. So, we begin to wonder about the endless possibilities that excite us.

With that in mind, here are a few international collaborations we would have loved to see.

Bibi Russell x Andy Warhol

Pioneers in their own rights, Bibi Russell and Andy Warhol never failed to push the limits of self-expression.

The two are characterised by exuberance, glamour, and playfulness with ornamental patterns finding their way into a good portion of their work. Where creatives attempt to shy away from the mundane of everyday lives, Russell and Warhol found inspiration in the supposed dullness of regularity.

Bibi Russell, who had just stepped into the world of fashion, experimented with all sorts of fabrics and styles. However, it wasn't until she began to instil her love for local textile that her designs took a life of their own and launched the handicraft artisans of Bangladesh to a global scale. With the integration of khadi, jamdani, and gamchha, her designs were a breath of fresh air in the scene all the while being eco-friendly.

Warhol, on the other hand, sought to reimagine familiarity and attempted to find beauty in something as regular as a can of soup. Safe to say, he succeeded. "Campbell's Soup Cans" is an instantly recognisable piece that helped pop art become the epicentre of the art movement in the early 60s. The illustration was initially met with indifference from the general public but went on to create waves in the art scene later on. It helped consolidate his signature style of "mass production" and silkscreen printing.

Both Warhol and Russell loved juxtaposing colours and mediums, and showing a part of themselves in everything they created. This duo would amalgamate their commercial prowess and boundary-pushing creativity to produce perhaps a fashion line that embodies the spirit of the subcontinent as well as the boisterous nature of pop art.

Satyajit Ray x Hayao Miyazaki

Lush green meadow imperceptibly swaying against the gush of wind while the protagonist, young and naive, gazes at the marvel of a train or an airplane passing by. If this imagery reminds you of either Miyazaki or Ray's films, you are not alone.

There is no doubt about the brilliance of the two filmmakers. Their cinema possesses an unforeseen sense of universal love evoking all of our senses to unravel before us a masterpiece each time.

Satyajit Ray started his career as a commercial illustrator and printmaker. In fact, it was Ray himself who illustrated the cover for the novel Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. He found himself deeply entrenched in the world of cinema, writing screenplays, being the founder of a film society, and a regular at the theatre. His work hinges on the innocence of being a child and the perils of parenthood.

Much like Miyazaki, Ray explores the conflicting nature of tradition and modernism. With coming-of-age themes, versatile storytelling, and a musical score moulded solely for Ray's films, we can see how it can fit right amongst Miyazaki's magical creatures.

On the other hand, Hayao Miyazaki's films are veiled under multiple layers of meticulous craftsmanship, each playing their part to make the drawings feel alive. Similarly, Ray and his crew were renowned for developing new techniques of filming. The two also love to personify the elements, giving nature the ability to wreak havoc as well as love. Both auteurs are distinctly influenced by the humane aspects of their characters. While one of them engulfs their characters in a magical universe, the other wants their characters to deal with the world head-on.

It is their differences that make them exceptional. However, one can't help but wonder how Apu would befriend Totoro or Feluda solving crime alongside one of Hayao Miyazaki's wonderful companions. It is a thought fuelled by the very essence of the films the two of them have given us. And although it might be impossible now, we can surely let our imaginations wander.

Jalali Set x BROCKHAMPTON

Youthful, rambunctious, and borderline manic – hip-hop, as a genre, is braggadocious and all about the hustle. However, with the rise of young crews, the rules of hip-hop have been bent, and non-conformity is now the norm.

Jalali Set burst onto the scene embodying an anarchic spirit. They sought to represent the chaos that looms large in Dhaka and pack it into songs that sound nothing short of implosions.

Equally proud of their identities are Texas boy-band Brockhampton. Formed on the internet over a Kanye West forum, this exciting crew is the sound that has come to define a generation. With R&B influences and pop sounds scattered all over their discography, the group has proven to venture out and not be defined by a single genre.

While Jalali Set presents the audience with piercing verses, humorous one-liners, and comical ad-libs, their prime objective is to conspicuously show off what it means to be "puran Dhakaiya". Most of their lyrical content is riddled with the vernacular of the area and about the come-up (as well as survival) of the streets. Their beats sound almost menacing and once paired with a classic drum loop, help their mischievous aesthetic come through.

Brockhampton, while musically more diverse, also has a chaotic feel to it. The relentless verses switch from bars to melody almost effortlessly without ever sounding out of sync. Each member contributes a different theme, spanning from identity, trauma, as well as questioning the status quo.

With a blend of sub-continental nudge combined with a sound that has garnered an obsessive global fanbase, it holds the potential to either be a beautiful mess or the next big thing. Kevin Abstract's punchy vocals and MC Mugz's knock-out deliveries over a beat rummaging with multiple influences sounds like a head nodding magnum opus.    

Abir Hossain is a failed SoundCloud Rapper. Tell him you too can't find anything to rhyme oranges with at fb/abir.hossain.19