Posthuman
Curated by B Ajay Sharma, Umesh Kumar NayakCynthia Post Hunt and Chaiworawat Natthaphon
Collaborated with Tinni Mahapatra, Sanjukta Ghosh and Amrita Banerjee
The production was an innovative initiative created with first-year students. Despite their inexperience in performance art, their fresh perspectives and creative ideas significantly enriched the project. This project demonstrated their capacity for creativity and innovation, resulting in a compelling and impactful experience. While I had some key elements in mind, many aspects emerged organically during the preparation process. After struggling to find suitable songs with professional singers, a student sang a piece I immediately liked. I want to thank the printmaking department teachers for their support.
On the performance day, our first task was to create and construct a bamboo temple-like structure and an installation, which aligned with my original vision. With the help of artist Suresh, we completed the framework and covered it with Neem leaves. We hadn't chosen a location yet, but after taking a break, I discovered a spot beyond the campus that resonated with me. I wanted the students to perform naturally rather than theatrically, so I provided a few hints and basic guidelines and emphasized authenticity and the essence of life, aiming to boost their morale and confidence. Encouraging them with hope for positive outcomes. I clarified that their actions would enhance the overall performance piece.
At 3 PM, we started setting up the space and bringing materials on site. At 4 PM, the curators asked us to wait. At 4:30 PM, as the audience began to arrive, I commenced my performance, perfectly timed with the setting sun.
The performance explored themes of land, coexistence, and our relationship with it, blending mundane tasks into art. The three students—Tinni, Sanjutha, and Arpitha—worked together seamlessly. Arpitha ground jaggery with focused precision, while Tinni and Sanjutha prepared the neem leaves for their medicinal use. The air was filled with the sweet scent of jaggery and the fresh aroma of neem, showcasing our teamwork and shared dedication to the task.
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I dove back into my performance routine, taking on the challenge of consuming the intensely bitter neem leaves. Each bite of neem tested my resolve, pushing my boundaries and connecting with nature's raw essence, symbolizing resilience and our bond with the environment. I also balanced the earth on my head, embodying a grounding force by planting neem plants and incorporating an animal skull. The performance explored themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of existence, encouraging reflection on our interconnectedness with the natural world.
The atmosphere was electric as I practised polyphonic ventriloquism, filling the space with a chorus of voices. The students eagerly joined in, their melodies blending with the rhythmic processing of neem leaves. The spectators' intense expressions revealed profound emotions. This captivating action engaged in emotional exchanges that resonated with everyone present.
The experience was metaphorical and shamanic, highlighting the land's voices and connection to nature and all living beings. With the sound of a cow in the background, the performance combined sensory elements like sound and food, using a poetic approach to convey themes of existential tension, struggle, survival, and interdependence.
The performance highlighted the importance of connecting with the land, rituals, culture, and traditions while exploring shamanic and spiritual connections that transform the experience into a therapeutic practice.
The discourse on Post-Human invites a critical examination of the concept. I argue for a reconnection with fundamental human nature, emphasizing the importance of compassion and humility towards all living beings. We live in an era characterized by a disconnection from nature. It is essential to foster a strong connection between technological advancements and our environment, as technology contributes to this separation. Shamanic rituals provide therapeutic experiences, and after a recent engagement at Utkal University, participants shared their gratitude and reflections, allowing for meaningful interaction.
The student sang this song during the performance.
The Reddish Soil Road leading from the Village
has made my Mind get lost far far away
গ্রামছাড়া ঐ রাঙা মাটির পথ আমার মন ভুলায় রে ।
ওরে কার পানে মন হাত বাড়িয়ে লুটিয়ে যায় ধুলায় রে ॥১॥
Graam-Chaarraa Ai Raangaa Maattir Path Aamaar Man Bhulaayye Re |
Ore Kaar Paane Mon Haat Baarriyye Luttiyye Jaayye Dhulaayye Re ||1||
Meaning:
1.1: The Reddish Soil Road leading from the Village has made my Mind get lost far far away,
1.2: Oh! Towards whom has my Mind stretched out its hands and then rolled down on the Dust?
ও যে আমায় ঘরের বাহির করে, পায়ে_পায়ে পায়ে ধরে _
ও যে কেড়ে আমায় নিয়ে যায় রে যায় রে কোন্ চুলায়ে রে ।
ও যে কোন্ বাঁকে কী ধন দেখাবে, কোন্খানে কী দায় ঠেকাবে _
কোথায় গিয়ে শেষ মেলে যে ভেবেই না কুলায় রে ॥২॥
O Je Aamaayye Gharer Baahir Kare, Paayye_Paayye Paayye Dhore _
O Je Kerre Aamaayye Niyye Jaayya Re Jaayya Re Kon Culaayye Re |
O Je Kon Baake Kii Dhon Dekhaabe, Konkhaane Kii Daayye Tthekaabe _
Kothaayye Giyye Shess Mele Je Bhebei Naa Kulaayya Re ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: Oh! It has made me go Out of my Home, by holding each Step of my Feet, ...
2.2: ... and taking me away forcefully, is leading me to which unknown Place I know not,
3.1: Oh! What Treasure will it show me in which Turn, and what Obstacle will it pose in which Place, ...
3.2: ... and where will it end, I cannot think it out, I cannot think it out,
The Reddish Soil Road leading from the Village has made my Mind get lost far away.
Dimple B Shah 29th Dec 2024
Photo Courtesy Post Human Team
Focus on the performance:
ReplyDeleteThis performance was a powerful reminder of the healing potential in reconnecting with our land, culture, and traditions. The exploration of shamanic and spiritual connections was both moving and thought-provoking, highlighting the therapeutic nature of these practices.
Focus on the ideas:
Your discourse on the post-human and the critical need for compassion in our relationship with both technology and nature is incredibly important. The emphasis on reconnecting with our fundamental humanity and fostering humility towards all living beings is a message that resonates deeply in our current world.
Thank you Dr. V. Srinath for the insight thoughts about Fostering humility and compassion.
ReplyDeleteDimple Shah's performance in simple terms reveal sensibilities that are inward looking metaphorical abstractions.
ReplyDeleteWhy abstractions ?...one might question
We live within a Natural world of hidden metaphors, quasi allegorical messages in a way that, it can express itself only through a living soul on earth, those of whom can utter a few words, weep, and express certain genuine emotions. This is a person, who had developed a certain 'capability to absorb' the vital nature of out existence; of the tormented Earth and it's resources, both, in billions and trillions of animate and inanimate, currently facing a brink of extinction.
But, does everyone realize this, and why not ?
Sages from the past have branded artists as Gadharvaas, with special talents to perceive, visualise, to pass on invaluable messages to the laity. Herbert Read in his book "Philosophy of Modern art" Wrote to state, that one who is involved in the act of progressively reforming the society is an artist of a rare kind. This is what Dimple Shah is made up of, as a natural reformer who travels across the world to repeatedly remind people of of their much ignored connectivity to the planet Earth.
Dimple Shah and the Neem Tree symbolism ?
Did we know in the beginning we had only Carbon dioxide ?
There was water, and then moss, and the trees breathed in Carbon dioxide and gave out oxigen. A sage once asked his shocked disciples : "Did you know that your lungs are not inside you, but hanging out there on the trees ?
Dimple Shaw carried a Scull of a cow. A cow is a symbol of prosperity. In India it's worshipped for its spiritual significance. In a century with its dizzying pace of scientific and technological development, we are unaware of conscious conditions demanded by the universe of a greater consciousness. Lots could be said about our bodies, minds and the self that we are. We picked up everything from this earth..we are indebted to the Earth and we return everything we accumulated. What we in the end we carry are only our conscious actions. The symbolic performance by Dimple are beyond words and the message she transports have to be absorbed in silence. What she carries what she wears. What she does by way of a body language are messages to humanity to become aware of aspects vital to their further evolution.
Thank you Hariram Veeraraghavan sir for appreciating and very closely observing my work and connecting to higher purpose of life. I am glad that you have decoded the hidden message in my action adding insightful perspective for my viewer to look into my work. Thank you -Dimple B Shah
ReplyDeleteto Dimple and the participating performers:
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful approach, yes reminder of who we all might be and could be.
Yes indeed we need not only to rethink our relationship to land, plants and living organismes and beings we also need to relate to these matters and hence may be possibliy yes acutally act differently.
This performance shows me tangibly how art could bridge in a ritual like manner this need for change.
The images are very strong and the text below finely tunes them. An wonderful and important work. There would be more to say and to reflect on.
I am very touched by this ritual-performance.
And yes I am focusing in my work on organismes in soil and water, hoping to find unknown ways of relating to them and learning something about this unseen world, which is our live-base.
Thank you dear @DorotheaRust for your wonderful and insightful comments, it helps me to keep my work going and put my efforts honestly to our coexistence and shamanic practice in performance art. There are several layers to this performance and it worked well to bring all of them in one together as one.
ReplyDeleteYour work is also exciting journey to inner world of soil and organism look forward for your work. Thank you for your time and feedback in your busy schedules.