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Aatira Nair

Aatira Nair

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Aatira Nair
BA (Hons) Fine Art

Aatira Nair

Eternal Bhava (A ceremony of emotions)

Eternal Bhava (A ceremony of emotions) is a multimedia installation and follows the idea of acceptance as the last stage of trauma. The usage of Natyashastra (a guidebook on elements of classical Indian performing arts) and Indian folk dance imagery have been employed to convey the same. The work was influenced by Sari (a South Asian garment made from unstitched fabric, seen as pure, and draped onto the body). The method of pleating, used while draping a sari, was used to make the background patterns of the fabric paintings.

The work follows the story of Draupadi as a symbol of trauma response. Each painting depicts a different memory or experience, stitched together representing a sari, showcasing a way to wear one’s story onto oneself. Based on the concept derived from the Natyashastra, Navarasas refer to the nine emotions that are provoked in the viewers, represented by the masks and the video.