Samsara and Metamorphosis: The Mystical World of Seema Kohli
Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, California
Seema Kohli
Seema Kohli
2018
Photos
Performed at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai
Video is available on demand
Concept, Script & Direction: Seema Kohli
Performance: Seema Kohli and Lokesh Bhardwaj
In Silence the Secrets Speak is an experiential multidimensional narrative performance that attempts to grasp the metaphysical truth of existence. It is through the visual language of art and performance that the artist engages with the most fundamental philosophical inquiry—that of life—by attempting to decipher the cosmic energy that is responsible for all of creation.
The performance employs some of the fundamental tenets of Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism and Greek mythology to emphasise the artist’s own understanding of the cyclicality of existence. Life rejuvenates itself through the unending process of birth, death and rebirth. Indeed, Kohli sees all her works as a tool of meditation, conceptually akin to the Buddhist mandala exploring cosmic truths and laws of the universe.
A visual storyteller, she weaves tales that are deeply personal yet not autobiographical. They strike a universal chord. In this work, she engages with a wide array of religious iconography, philosophy and literature to recover some of the feminine narrative that has been lost to cultural history. Appropriating ancient Indian iconography and philosophy, she re-interprets ancient myths and mythological figures to suit the contemporary moment and zeitgeist, creating a talk and performance that, above all, turns into a journey into the self and spiritual cosmos.
In Silence the Secrets Speak has unfolded and evolved over several iterations. The very first was performed at the Park Hyatt, Chennai, in 2016, followed by updated renderings at the NGMA, Bangalore; WuWei Wisdom Sanctuary, Bali; South East Asian University, Boston; University of Chicago, Chicago; the South East Asian Studies Department at SUNY, Buffalo; the University of California, Davis; and the Ahmedabad Art Fair.
Kohli performed the most recent iteration in 2018, at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai, alongside dancer and performer Lokesh Bhardwaj.
Pacific Art League, Palo Alto, California
Gallerie Nvya, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
Shridharani Gallery at Triveni Kala Sangam, presented by Gallerie Nvya, Delhi
National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru
Seema Kohli Studio, New Delhi and The Partition Museum, Delhi
Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
Bihar Museum, Patna
Bikaner House, New Delhi presented by Gallerie Nvya
Venue: Sunder Nursery, New Delhi, Presented by Gallery Ragini
Kolkata Centre for Creativity, Kolkata
Tao Art Gallery
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