Contemporary South Asian art at the AICON Gallery
Earlier this summer the AICON Gallery hosted a show “Threshold: Forging Narratives in South Asian Contemporary Art.” Aseem Chhabra visited the gallery and talked to its director Priyanka Mathew, about the show and the South Asian art scene in general.
The gallery is located in the Greenwich Village/NoHo section of Manhattan, focusing on contemporary works by South Asian artists — mostly from India, Pakistan, and those living in the Diaspora. In addition to its New York location, the gallery also has a branch in London.
Exploring gender and sexuality through Bharatnatyam
Mesma Belsare is a Boston-based, Indian American dancer, choreographer, actor, visual artist and art-museum educator.
Formally trained in Bharatanatyam she focuses on choreography that addresses gender, gender-identity and sexuality.
Last December Mesma was in New York to perform at Fashion Conscience 2009, an event organized by Engendered at the Asia Society.
In a conversation with Aseem Chhabra, Mesma discussed her training and performing Bharatnatyam in the United States and what it means to address transgender and sexuality issues as a dancer.
Video–Mesma’s holistic education