Shri Nataraja in Post-Traditional Media

Who is the Dancer? What are the meanings of his dance? Niranjan Rajah will explore the depth of meaning associated with the figure of the Hindu God Shiva in relation to traditional and contemporary art practices. The discussion will focus particular attention on the image of Shri Nataraja (Shiva) who, according to traditional Shivite culture, dances the world into and out of existence. The image of Shri Nataraja, prescribed in the Sastras and Agamas (sacred texts), has been realized in the sacred sculpture, dance, hymn and liturgy for well over ten centuries. The grandeur of its conception arises from a masterful synthesis of science, religion and art.

More recently, Shri Nataraja has circulated within contemporary cultural imagination by the popular writings of physicists Fritjof Capra and Carl Sagan. How has this symbolic translation and interpretation influenced contemporary cultural practices? What are the implications of this contemporary cultural and technological appropriation? Rajah will discuss several artworks that are inspired by this figure of Shiva, in order to explain his theory of post-traditional practice.

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Heaven’s Breath. Free admission.

About Niranjan Rajah

Niranjan Rajah is an artist, theorist and curator. He is Assistant Professor at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University. Rajah’s research is focused on the junction of tradition and technology, where he is developing an interpretive and enabling framework for the remediation of traditional religious imaging in post-traditional media. Rajah has also been a researcher-in-residence at Surrey Art Gallery’s TechLab and convener for the New Forms Festival Conference, Vancouver, 2004 & 2005. He has worked as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Applied and Creative Arts, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; International Studies and Overseas Programmes Fellow at the Department of Design|Media Arts, UCLA; and artist-in-residence at the Cyberarts Research Initiative, University Scholars Programme, National University of Singapore. Rajah is presently developing the exhibition Boundary and Translation for the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia.

About Heaven's Breath

Heaven’s Breath, a new media installation, is a collaboration between Chris Welsby, Brady Marks and Scheherazaad Cooper. It is inspired by an eleventh century figurine depicting the Hindu God, Shiva, performing the dance of creation and destruction. The exhibition combines Oddisi dance with interactive technology and real time weather data. Heaven’s Breath continues to August 30.

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