In protest against an archaic law of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, that governs and affects millions of lives, a choreographic art performance titled “Queen Size” will be showcased in Delhi.
Khoj International Artists’ Association will be presenting a unique combination of art, dance and theatre in response to section 377 that criminalises homosexuality in India. The work has been triggered by Nishit Saran’s article titled ‘Why My Bedroom Habits Are Your Business’, first published in the Indian Express in January 2000.
Choreographed by Mandeep Raikhy and performed by dancers Lalit Khatana and Parinay Mehra, this choreographic exploration that takes the form of a detailed study of the intimacy between two men. Played out on a charpoy, the duet examines the nuts and bolts – carnal, mechanical and emotional – of a close encounter between two male bodies. In deliberately making this encounter visible, it poses questions around spectatorship, privacy and dissent.
The performance is slated to travel to multiple spaces across different cities and towns in the country from August 2016 to March 2017. The audience can enter the performance space at specific intervals through this period, and stay for as long as they like. To ensure optimal audience circulation, recommended arrival times are 7:15/
7:45/ 8:15/ 8:45pm. Suitable for 18 years and above only.
The executive producers for the act are Sandbox Collective and production support has been provided by Pro Helvetia- Swiss Arts
Council, Japan Foundation, Nishit Saran Foundation & Gati Dance Forum.
Performance Trailer can be viewed on www.vimeo.com/173728942
Queen Size will be performed at Khoj Studios, S-17, Khirki Extension, New Delhi on Sept 4, 2016 from 7.15 p.m to 9.30 p.m.
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