Anarkali, Bhagavad-Gita, and Who Knoweth Himself

In a piece stunning to both the eyes and ears, this work-in-progress by Ibrahim Quraishi reinterprets ancient texts to examine Islam in the five nations of South Asia-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Five Streams is a theater performance that integrates live and pre-recorded voice, dance, 3-D animation, and interactive sound installations to illuminate the three foundational texts in the cultures of the region: Anarkali, a tragic court romance of Mughal India; the Bhagavad-Gita, the deeply philosophical climax of the Indian epic Mahabharata; and Who Knoweth Himself, a mystical treatise by the Sufi philosopher Ibn al-Arabi. Paul Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky and choreographer Parul Shah are among a large group of collaborating artists, many of whom will participate in a 2-week residency at MASS MoCA. Presented in collaboration with The Asia Society. [via eyebeam reblog]