Critical Writing Index

The Performative Space

by Swapnaa Tamhane

C Magazine, Summer 2011, no. 110, pp. 34-39

Performance is emerging a a tour de force of contemporary Indian art, the challenge of defining what performance can be is the question which introduces Swapnaa Tamhane's discussion. Many forms of public performative display are described including the public form of storytelling, the Ram Lila, secular street theatre revitalized by the assassinated Safdar Hashmi in the 1960's, and the community theatre organization founded in his memory, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAMAT). The work of feminist and anti colonial performance artists Rammana Hussein, Sonia Khurana, Inder Salim, and Nikhil Chopra. Tamhane questions whether these artists' practice are enough fuel to create, or be called a movement, and hints at what names might be appropriate for the movement.

ITEM 2011.021 – available for viewing in the Research Centre

Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited

Living on the MarginsSafdar Hasmi

Textured TerrainRummana Hussain

BirdRummana Hussain

Is it What You Think?Sonia Khurana

Dialogue with Power Plan, Shrill cross a Dead RiverRummana Hussain

We all are Women's issuesInder Salim

Inder Salim

Nikhil Chopra