Fiction Follows Form

On another large screen on display,a dancer performs Bharatanatyam,but thats in the distance. To see the dancer closer,whose sillhouette is made of words,one has to move towards the screen. At this point,the image is enlarged. On a different screen,a dancing figure bursts into various forms,almost resembling the way coloured mirrors in a kaleidoscope disintegrate to form beautiful patterns .

While todays generation might not have the time to catch a classical dance performance,Norbert and Nicole Corsino of the French choreography team bring performing arts to the audience through technology. Norbert says,Our intention was to make a graphic novel. We have experimented with new ways of presenting dance and pushing its boundaries. It will later be converted into an i-pad app which will be released next month.

Twelve fictional pieces by author Anjum Hasan form the basis of the choreography. The stories in English were translated into five languages Hindi,Kannada,Gujarati,French and Italian and are visible in the videos and installations. The pieces tell of everyday situations in Bangalore from the way old people remember the city and the various voices one hears to experiences at a railway station at night. This is probably the reason why Nobert had thought of naming the exhibition as Bangalore Diaries earlier.

The exhibition is on display till March 14 at the National Gallery of Modern Art. Contact: 2338 8853