Dance of the Hindu Gods – A Multimedia Exhibition

Building on Arjun Appadurai’s perceptive analysis of globalization, and glocalisation with regards to modernity, imagination, identity, collective experience, and diasporic public sphere, “Dance of the Hindu Gods” is a new collaborative project. In recent years Australia has witnessed a rise in the arrival of the Hindus, especially post 2000s, who strongly bring their cultural practise along with them. While adapting to their new home, their cultural practices also modify from the traditional ways to a more contemporary practice that blends and responds to their new surroundings. The analysis of the adaptation of performing arts and culture in their new circumstances has been undertaken by various scholars; especially the work of Richard Schechner on theatre influences our exhibition. Schechner, looked into the complex world of performances and acting and how the new environment of practicing drama is changing its meaning. Curated by Dr Vikrant Kishore, the project involved elements of visual and ritualistic art form by Visual artist Aninidita Banerjee, a mix of contemporary interpretation of Hindu temple art form expressed through ceramic art by ceramic artist Nandita Nadkarni. Dr Kishore focuses on two elements 1 Masks of Chhau dance 2 Short films on Chhau and other temple dance forms, that showcases the blend of traditional and modern interpretation of the dance form that are practiced in India and Australia. The project is contextually structured not only on the need to establish our identity in a diaspora but to also share the pride of a rich cultural heritage and to celebrate multiculturalism.