Priyanka Jain
The Forest on My Flesh (detail)
digital illustration
42 x 30 cm
Why Runs the Abhisarika
Performance of Picture Recitation
Research Abstract
Contemporizing Picture Recitation
Picture recitation is a form of prosemetric storytelling which uses a visual artifact. Picture recitation for religious teaching as well as popular entertainment has existed in many countries in the eastern and western hemispheres at different time periods in the form of scrolls and tapestries. Various forms of picture recitation traditions have also existed in India in the past, have faced decline due to socio-economic changes and are now are on the path to revival by reaching out to new audiences through the use of digital platforms. The practice however remains within a small folk community. How can a contemporary artist outside the community contribute to these traditions? Through this practice-led research, new narrative fiction will be composed from research in scientific fields such as Neuroscience and Microbiology to reimagine this art tradition from a secular, urban and futuristic perspective. These narratives will then be recited as contemporary spoken word poetry while simultaneously presenting illustrations executed on two traditional picture recitation props such as scroll paintings and wooden boxes, to create a contemporary form of performative storytelling. The artistic research aims to look into the recent progressions made in science communication, medical illustrations, narrative paintings and performance art to accommodate the perception of non‐western cultures on art in its lived social context.
Bio
Priyanka Jain has studied BFA at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India and MFA at Staatlichen Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste, Stuttgart, Germany before enrolling in Practice-led research at RMIT University, Melbourne. She works across multiple mediums such as drawing, animation and card game performances. Currently she writes fiction about the human body using literature from Neurosciences and Microbiology and is interested in ideas of dystopia and the human condition.