Soumik Datta's Silent Spaces: Episode 1


The first episode in Soumik Datta's SILENT SPACES is out now! The first episode features contemporary music and dance filmed inside a dormant and empty British Museum during the winter lockdown of 2021. 

For brothers Soumik and Souvid Datta - life was affected profoundly by lockdown. Like many of their peers, work immediately dried up and suddenly Soumik and Souvid were tested by the fragility of their mental health. This all took place under the backdrop of the George Floyd murder, the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement and a new and mainstream conversation about race and identity.

The journey into central London’s British Museum was a painful one for the Datta brothers. Award winning Director, Souvid was asking himself why the injustice of unequal power relations between the UK and its colonial subjects, in the museum, had been celebrated for so long. Yet the staff welcomed and supported these debates, making it overwhelmingly an exercise of empowerment and self-emancipation.

Culminating in this first episode of SILENT SPACES, Soumik adapted the words of legendary Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore to write and compose a new song - sung in unison between Datta and rising Soul singer, Amahla. With saxophonist Yasmin Ogilvie and star dancer-choreographers Monique Jonas and Ihsaan de Banya sharing the space, ‘Messengers’ channels Black and South Asian histories of the museum through new and diverse voices.

The pivotal spoken-word section, written and performed by Soumik was filmed beside the bust of museum founder & slave owner, Sir Hans Sloane. Soumik’s piece addresses the burden of forgiveness, the guilt of complicity, the mental health cost of racism and the DNA pain of the wider immigrant experience.

Breaking the silence of iconic cultural spaces, closed nightclubs and empty museums that were out of action during the COVID-19 pandemic, SILENT SPACES is an original new series of 6 episodes produced by Soumik Datta Arts.








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Soumik Datta's Silent Spaces: Episode 1


The first episode in Soumik Datta's SILENT SPACES is out now! The first episode features contemporary music and dance filmed inside a dormant and empty British Museum during the winter lockdown of 2021. 

For brothers Soumik and Souvid Datta - life was affected profoundly by lockdown. Like many of their peers, work immediately dried up and suddenly Soumik and Souvid were tested by the fragility of their mental health. This all took place under the backdrop of the George Floyd murder, the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement and a new and mainstream conversation about race and identity.

The journey into central London’s British Museum was a painful one for the Datta brothers. Award winning Director, Souvid was asking himself why the injustice of unequal power relations between the UK and its colonial subjects, in the museum, had been celebrated for so long. Yet the staff welcomed and supported these debates, making it overwhelmingly an exercise of empowerment and self-emancipation.

Culminating in this first episode of SILENT SPACES, Soumik adapted the words of legendary Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore to write and compose a new song - sung in unison between Datta and rising Soul singer, Amahla. With saxophonist Yasmin Ogilvie and star dancer-choreographers Monique Jonas and Ihsaan de Banya sharing the space, ‘Messengers’ channels Black and South Asian histories of the museum through new and diverse voices.

The pivotal spoken-word section, written and performed by Soumik was filmed beside the bust of museum founder & slave owner, Sir Hans Sloane. Soumik’s piece addresses the burden of forgiveness, the guilt of complicity, the mental health cost of racism and the DNA pain of the wider immigrant experience.

Breaking the silence of iconic cultural spaces, closed nightclubs and empty museums that were out of action during the COVID-19 pandemic, SILENT SPACES is an original new series of 6 episodes produced by Soumik Datta Arts.








Related Artist



Related News

New Releases: October 2022 31.10.22

Check out this months new releases and listen to our playlist on 


Soumik Datta Awarded the Aga Khan Music Award 2022 11.10.22

We're delighted that our friend Soumik Datta has won the 2022 Aga Khan Music Award. The triennial Awards, established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 2018, recognise exceptional creati...


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Soumik Datta has launched his new 'Hope Notes' project for Refugee Week 2022. Hope Notes is an immersive concert and theatre show combining animation and contemporary Indian music by aw...


Soumik Datta & Jeannin - 'The Love Between Us' 11.04.22

The BBC Singers and Chief Conductor Sofi Jeannin present a programme celebrating the rich heritage of Indian classical music with Soumik Datta, alongside the work of Bach. The concert is set to take...


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Check out this months new releases and listen to our playlist on