The State of Water

The State of Water is a collaboration with British Indian storyteller Peter Chand and Scottish storyteller Kirsten Milliken. Peter, from the Punjab, the land of five rivers, and Kirsten, from the Shetland Islands, represent two very different landscapes and cultures. But nowhere on earth exists in isolation, and though separated by continents, they are united by the world’s great waterways. Water moves through all things; rivers flow to the sea, rain is lifted into the clouds to fall again elsewhere, and oceans serve as highways carrying stories, language, culture, and ideas.


In this artistically crafted piece, we explore universal human themes—both light and dark—rooted in Scottish and Indian traditions. Together, Peter and Kirsten seamlessly blend stories, folklore, and song, sharing narratives about the waters that connect us all, revealing how deeply intertwined we are by the flow of water, culture, and shared humanity.