How classical Indian dance finds new life within the geometry of Islamic art
In short: Dancer Bijayini Satpathy reimagines the Odissi tradition through a site-specific performance at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. By engaging with the architecture and non-figurative patterns of Islamic galleries, she explores how the human body can embody and create complex design.
In this performance, titled Taru—the Sanskrit word for tree—Satpathy moves away from traditional Odissi musical structures. Collaborating with composer Bindhumalini Narayanaswamy, she incorporates a tarana, a Hindustani musical form deeply influenced by Persian traditions. The choreography draws inspiration from the interlacing geometric patterns found in the museum's Islamic art collection, transforming the dancer's body into a living extension of the gallery's aesthetic.
Recorded on May 14, 2022, in Galleries 459 and 460, the work serves as a bridge between distinct cultural legacies. Satpathy explicitly grounds her innovation in the history of Odisha, acknowledging the foundational contributions of the Mahari temple dancers and the young Gotipua dancers who shaped the Odissi form.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Bijayini Satpathy in the Galleries: Taru (Islamic Art) | MetLiveArts
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-bijayini-satpathy-in-the-galleries-taru-islamic-art-metlivea.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
