Still/moving body: Art working, encounters, conversations with Sonia Khurana

The purpose of this workshop is to air new research that interrogates how we think and write about the still/moving body. Griselda Pollock and Leon Wainwright will present papers focusing on the practice of Sonia Khurana, an artist who works across film, photography, installation and performance, frequently using her own body to make works that deal explicitly with themes of autobiography, gender and narration. One of India’s most path-breaking new media and performance artists, from early on in her peripatetic, itinerant practice, Khurana has deftly integrated performance, moving image, sound, and text-based works into shifting and subtle dialogues with architectural and environmental spaces. Eva Bentcheva’s paper will offer a perspective drawn from her recent PhD research on British South Asian performance and participatory live art. Roundtable discussion will follow each presentation. Themes for the discussion include: art working; dissidence; performance/ not-performing; feminism and practice; participation and relationships.

This event continues a series of conference and events at the Paul Mellon Centre exploring practices, art works and artists that move between South Asia and Britain, examining how we research and write about the encounters and conversations produced in these contexts.

Workshop Programme

At the Paul Mellon Centre (16 Bedford Square, WC1B 3JA)

11.00-11.30: Coffee

11.30-12.00: Welcome to the event & introduction (Sarah Turner)

12.00 - 1.00: Griselda Pollock

1.00 - 2.00: Lunch

2.00 - 2.45: Eva Bentcheva

2.45-3.00: tea break

3.00-4.00: Leon Wainwright

4.00-4.30: Wrap-up discussion

Attendance at the workshop is free, but places are limited and attendance needs to be confirmed in advance by booking a place.

At the Courtuald Institute of Art
6.00 – 8.00 pm: The workshop will be followed by an evening event at the Courtauld Institute of Art.
“IF I DON’T DANCE…”, a talk by the artist Sonia Khurana, will be followed by responses by Griselda Pollock and Leon Wainwright and an audience Q&A.

8.00 pm: Drinks

More information about the evening event can be found here http://courtauld.ac.uk/event/sonia-khurana-dont-dance

Image credit: Sonia Khurana, If I Don't Dance (2014-2016. Wall installation, neon lit text). Image courtesy of the artist.