People are beginning to reclaim spaces in the Bangalore

The ever-evolving dynamics of art
Art will always respond to something that is modern and contemporary; newness will always be there. The point here is that performance art has been here for forever and more, it’s just that it has now evolved to become fancier and the audience is getting to experience more of it. In this whole transition from traditional to contemporary, some of the most traditional forms of art, which were lost are now making a comeback. People are beginning to reclaim spaces in the city and that’s the evolution.

The metamorphosis of Bangalore
The theatre and performing arts scene in the city has indeed undergone a lot of changes, and this has a lot to do with the drastic changes the city has undergone. From a sleepy town to a big metro — Bangalore has been through a huge transition. Today, thanks to the existing traffic conditions, going to a Jagriti or Ranga Shankara is a tiring thought. This is the reason why these places have been able to reach only a certain section of the audience, who are regulars here. So, as an artist or a performer, I have to start thinking of ways to take my work closer to the people. Why do people have to commute to see my work when I can take my work to them? This idea of accessibility of my art proves more feasible for my audience and in turn, I get to enjoy a larger and wider reach.

Break away from the mundane
From performances to presentations,  practitioners and artists are constantly working towards creating something new and bringing forth something that’s innovative. And a major effort is expended in finding newer spaces. Garages, industrial sheds, construction sites, malls, streets, restaurants, bars, pubs, homes – practitioners are in general looking at non-typical spaces to showcase their works. So, gone are the days when you had to be in an auditorium to watch a bunch of people perform on a stage. A non-typical venue also works well with the audience because it changes the mundane. Just imagine — you drive down Double Road every day and suddenly, one day it becomes a stage. You will obviously be intrigued and would want to participate. Discovering newer spaces to perform means – art becomes more exciting, interactive and gets audiences involved. 

Make the space  work for you
You may ask how would one choose an appropriate, “non-typical” space? Now that depends on what you want to show. There are two ways to do this – one, take your work where you know that you will already have an audience – like a Brigade Road on a weekend. The other way is to find hidden/ neglected spaces which people never notice but which you, with your performance, can bring to the spotlight. Your location should be based on your work.

For instance, if your work of art is about consumerism, your venue ideally should be a mall; or if it’s about Bangalore, I’d probably choose a dhobi ghat which is fast disappearing, or the last jutka stand in Gutahalli which could be history tomorrow – this location might even prove nostalgic for the audience. My work mostly deals with the city so for me, these spaces work better than a gallery. I would love to choose a construction site because I think it best portrays Bangalore as a city which is constantly undergoing changes. It would be interesting to focus on how a poor labourer is constructing a building where the richest will reside, or a Tangawala talking to a man driving a Merc – these are experiences which can never be felt or captured in a gallery, obviously because I can’t take these people there.

Do your homework
Now, when you choose these locations, they come with various challenges and require a lot of homework to be done. For the last decade, I have been taking my work outside, to the streets, and it has been a very interesting experience. By this I don’t necessarily mean to say that a theatre or gallery are less interesting venues. It’s just that for me as an artist, it’s more challenging to be able to adapt to different situations to please my audience. Public spaces no doubt give you the liberty to get more experimental, which is sometimes not possible in an auditorium due to a lot of restrictions, but the thing about choosing a public space is that you need to keep in mind the level of sensitivity it comes with.

This aspect is far more important and different from how it works in an auditorium or gallery. In an auditorium, the audience walking in knows what to expect because they have bought a ticket and have planned it. In an open space, on the other hand, you don’t know who your audience is, and the passerby, who is your actual audience here, doesn’t know what you are conveying. So, you have to do your homework thoroughly as you are inserting yourself and your work in a very shared area. You have to do the site survey in advance; you can’t afford to just land and go full swing on the day of the show. If I’m an artist presenting, I will be careful not to hinder, hurt or attract undue attention. The biggest challenge here is that, unlike in an auditorium, you are not creating a wall between the audience and you — you are all by yourself on the street.

The next big space
Smart phones will soon be your next space. With an effort to bring art closer to you, the day is not too far when practitioners will bring their works onto your palms as well. This is already happening on an elementary level, but it will soon become the next big thing.

As told to Shilpa Bansal

Archana Prasad
Artist and founder-director, Jaaga.in