Upcoming photo exhibition to examine the decline of Lavani

Art forms are always evolving It is the one constant in a world drastically being altered by AI artificial intelligence and digital media This does not mean that they evolve in the favour of artistsSudharak Olwersquos upcoming exhibition of photographs Lavani at the Nine Fish Art Gallery this week documents the many layers of struggle power and expression of the declining performance art of lavaniA dancer holds a pose at the onset of her performance Pics CourtesySudharak OlweA Padma Shriawardee Olwe began documenting tamasha troupes in Western Maharashtra two decades ago ldquoIt began in the early 2000s when I was pursuing a story It sparked my curiousity about the people and the art formrdquo he says Over the years the photographer returned to the community of tamasha performers building friendships while documenting their changing lives and strugglesLavani is a dance form from Maharashtra that is performed on public stages And while it is popular for its sensual vibe the performative tradition also has a history of biting dialogues often toned with sociopolitical satire ldquoThe performers come from the marginalised backgrounds of the Kolhati community and travel from one place to another There is also the element of caste that plays into the paradigm This adds to the negative treatment of the female performersrdquo he saysSudharak OlweOlwe points out that Mumbai once the hub for the labour class had several lavani theatres that have since shut down With lack of avenues and scarce documentation owing to the perception of the performances the art form is on a perennial decline ldquoWhat amazes me is their humanity and vulnerability Many performers often take to the stage with their hearts on their sleevesrdquo he revealsJointly presented by the gallery and Gourmoni Dasrsquo Dot Line Space Foundation the exhibition will be launched on January 12 with a performance by a lavani troupe Gallerist Das explains ldquoThis is one of my first attempts to explore the lavani art form by bringing the artistes hererdquo Addressing the perception of the art form as gaudy and lowbrow he says that the exhibition sheds light on its authenticity ldquoThere is a very socialistic angle to the struggle of these artistes Historically there was lavani for the labour class with the dance but the baithakichi lavani spoke about intellectual issues It was purely through expression and singingrdquo Das elaborates Throughout this collection Olwe is able to capture the subjects in their most expressive momentsA majority of the collection is in black and white that enhances the emotional depth of the momentOlwe attributes that to his close bonds ldquoThere is a thin line of separation when you document peoplersquos lives I build a friendship with them to understand their lives It makes a differencerdquo the photographer remarksWith diminishing avenues changing perceptions and artistes in decline perhaps the art form may be in its winter This makes the photographs the last evidence of their way of lifeFrom January 12 6 pm preview January 13 to February 18 11 am onwardsAt Nine Fish Art Gallery The New Great Eastern Mills Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road BycullaLog on to ninefishinFree