An exciting cross-cultural collaboration, A Page of 2 Lands, will be held at Arthshila Shantiniketan in West Bengal this spring, bringing together women artists from Wales and Nagaland to explore contemporary storytelling through folklore, gender equity, and comic literature.
Developed by Meta Arts (India) and Cardiff-based arts producer Kate Perridge, the project features four dynamic writers and illustrators — Emily Jones and Hannah McPake from Cardiff, alongside Vishü Rita Krocha and Thejavinou Savi from Kohima.
Funded by Wales Arts International and supported by the British Council, Arthshila Shantiniketan, and the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) Nagaland, A Page of 2 Lands is a bold attempt to create equitable creative spaces across gender and cultures.
“Recognizing the historic underrepresentation of women in visual storytelling and literature-linked arts in India, the project fosters a fresh platform for women artists to collaborate internationally, shifting perceptions toward more inclusive, ethical practices in the arts,” an update said.
By centering indigenous narratives and linguistic plurality, it highlights deep-rooted cultural ties between Wales and Northeast India.
The residency will be held from April 28 to May 1, culminating in a public showcase on May 2, which will feature a public talk on cross-cultural storytelling, dramatized readings of new works, and an exhibition walkthrough offering insights into the collaborative process.
Through first-language voices and folk traditions, A Page of 2 Lands champions sustainable and inclusive international co-creation.
Artist Bios
Hannah Mc Pake, Wales
Hannah is a writer and theatre maker. Originally from Edinburgh, she has been based in Cardiff for the past 25 years.Hannah writes regularly for theatre. She was one of BBC Writers Room Welsh Voices 2023. I AM KEVIN, a hybrid theatre/film with the Cornish landscape theatre company Wildworks was shortlisted for Best Single Drama at the Celtic Media Festival 2024. Hannah regularly collaborates with yellow brick to create audio experiences and is an Associate Artist of Theatr Iolo.Her work is often inspired by history or reimagining’s of well-known stories; it puts female characters firmly center stage – playful and big hearted but unafraid to delve into the dark side of life.
Emily Jones, Wales
Emily grew up in the Northeast of England and moved to Wales in 2001. Her illustration career primarily lies in children’s publishing and clients include Puffin Books, Piccadilly Press and The Roald dahl Story Company. Emily’s work is heavily character based, comical and expressive and packed with detail to compliment narrative.
Illustration successes include being an Undiscovered Voice with the Society of Children’s books. Being shortlisted for the Stratford-Salariya Children’s Picture Book Prize in 2017 and 2021. And coming runner-up in The Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize 2017.
As well as Illustrating, Emily works as a scenic artist at the Sherman Theatre. There she works in large-scale painting sets, backdrops, murals and prop pieces.
Vishu Rita Krocha, Nagaland
Vishü Rita Krocha is a poet, journalist and author from Nagaland. She has authored 6 books including three collections of poetry and has also coauthored several other books published by PenThrill, Zubaan, Sahitya Akademi and Routledge. She is a recipient of the Kohima Press Club Impact Journalism Award 2022, and a National Foundation for India (NFI) Media Fellow 2021. In 2021, she was part of the first cohort of the US Consulate General Kolkata-led Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program. In 2013, she founded PenThrill, an independent publishing house based in Kohima, which has been instrumental in unearthing literary talents from the Northeast particularly from Nagaland.
Thejavinou Savi, Nagaland
Thejavinuo Savi is a realism-based visual artist from Nagaland whose work celebrates and preserves Naga culture through finely detailed drawings. Drawing inspiration from traditional attire, festivals, everyday rituals, and communal gatherings, she focuses on authentic representations of her homeland. Working primarily in dry mediums—color pencils, charcoal, graphite, and oil pastels—Thejavinuo builds layers of texture and depth, capturing the interplay of light, fabric, and emotion. Each piece serves as a narrative window into the vibrant community life and ancestral customs of Nagaland. Her work has been featured in exhibitions and collaborations, reaching audiences beyond Nagaland.