Performance Art in India Explores Ritual Traditions from Bhupen Khakhar to Sahej Rahal

In February 2012, Sahej Rahal presented Bhramana I on a pedestrian walkway in Bandra, Mumbai, embodying a shamanic character adorned in discarded fabric and faux fur. His performance drew inspiration from Navajo shamans, Star Wars Jawas, and Joseph Beuys, while engaging with the historical context of ritual performances in India. The series title alludes to the Brāhmanas and the Natya Shastra. Previous artists, such as Bhupen Khakhar, critiqued ritual excess in a 1971 mock wedding procession. Subodh Gupta's 1999 work Pure utilized mud and cow dung, and Pushpamala N referenced Fearless Nadia in her performances. Nikhil Chopra is known for his durational pieces, and Rahal later incorporated science fiction themes. This article, featured in ArtReview Asia's Spring/Summer 2014 issue, explores how Indian performance artists navigate their ritual heritage.