In this episode of the podcast, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of the Chola Dynasty — a formidable South Indian empire that flourished from the 9th to the 13th centuries CE. Originating in present-day Tamil Nadu, the Cholas expanded their influence far beyond their homeland, conquering the kingdoms of the Pallavas, Cheras, and Pandyas to establish a vast and significant empire in Southern India and beyond.

Vijayalaya Chola established the Chola empire in the 9th century. His successors, notably Rajaraja Chola I (reigned 985–1014 CE) and his son Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014–1044 CE), took the empire to new heights and expanded it to previously uncharted territories — making it one of the vastest empires in the Southern region of the country. Rajaraja Chola I’s reign was marked by significant administrative and military reforms, laying the foundation for a well-organised and powerful empire. The Cholas reached their zenith in social, religious, and military spheres under his rule, before their gradual decline in the late 12th century — paving the way for the rise of successor states.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details) 
 
 Image credits: Mcasankar

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani.

In this episode of the podcast, we’ll delve into the structural and ecological brilliance of one of the most iconic examples of Pallava architecture: The Shore Temple. To trace the evolution of the Dravida temple style, we’ll also take a brief look at the Kailashnath Temple in Kanchipuram, the historic capital of the Pallava dynasty. Along the way, we’ll explore the concepts of akam and puram, which underpin the spiritual essence of Dravida temple towns.

As pioneers of Dravidian temple architecture, the early Pallava rulers were instrumental in establishing a sophisticated artistic and architectural identity. This identity not only defines Pallava style but also reveals the deep symbolic connections between ecology and art. Our exploration of the Shore Temple, perched on the Coromandel Coast in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, will shed light on these philosophical, semiotic, and ecological aspects.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details) 
 
 Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani. 

The Episode begins with contextualising the essence of being in the temple — how one feels or behaves in the temple and how the temple has been significant in India. We also dwell upon the Buddhist architecture that led to the foundation of a dedicated place for devotion followed by the philosophy of the “sacred”. Further, we focus on the prominent religions of India, viz Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, which became the ground for the construction of several sacred sites.

We also explore the concept of Tirtha, a sacred site, as explained by Stella Kramrisch. We discuss the symbolic meaning of each temple structure starting from the bottom which is the jagati to the kalasa, the top, attributing that transpires a devotee while experiencing higher consciousness.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Image Credits: Harvinder Chandigarh

Written by Urvi C, Modified by Davangi Pathak, and Final Revisions by Asmita Singh.

Shivani Aggarwal's works come from a process of continuously breaking herself to understand not just the world around her but the world within her. Her process is an emotional premonition of her own situation or condition. Over the past few years she has been involved with creating, enlarging , bending and twisting common everyday objects that she finds in her regular environment. Her art practice has evolved into a three-dimensional installation in wood, terracotta, fibreglass and thread. Her use of red thread in her previous body of works has been a significant emotion of expression. They are symbolic of functionality, whether personal, political or societal, which are being constantly challenged.

We have arrived at the end of the podcast series, Indian Art History. In this episode, our host Ayushi takes us to the complex comprehensions of contemporary Indian art. She takes a route via art practices of several contemporary artists through the value of threats, love and care while looking at the contemporary urge to make art. Image Credits: Art Limited/Sudhir Patwardhan; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

The Episode introduces you to the practice of different artists post independence. Through their varied narrative and abstract practices they shaped the modern art landscape in India. They exchanged ideas and techniques with the rest of the world and carved a niche for the South Asian artists. . Image Credits: Met Museum; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

Maksud Ali Mondal (1993, based in Santiniketan) was born in Bankura, West Bengal, India. His practice includes facilitating an experiential understanding of organisms in a durational, built microcosm, using sculpture, painting, drawing, installation and photography. His work deals with microbial contamination as a conversational expression, based on observation of growth, transformations and decomposition of organic matter by bacteria, fungi, creatures, fermentation, oxidation, rotting and with the organic, manmade found objects and everyday discarded materials. In this one of a kind podcast, learn in detail about the artist's fascination with the "real".

As India edged towards independence from the British, Indian artists also set free their aspirations, beliefs and conformities by experimenting and searching for visual idioms that made their work more of the subcontinent. Tune in as we discuss the art of prominent artists. Image Credits: National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA); Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

A quick tour to 19th century Kolkata. We are particularly visiting the Kalighat temple where the Kalighat paintings are being sold as souvenirs to pilgrims. This resulted in an art style that spoke not just about religion and mythology but also urged its readers to think beyond through social satire. Image Credits: Christie's; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

Bunu Dhungana (b.1981) is an artist based in Kathmandu, Nepal. She uses photography as a medium to explore and question the world around her. Her background in sociology informs her photographic work, questioning notions of gender and patriarchy. While her personal projects centre around gender, she has worked in a wide range of fields from visual ethnography, NGO/INGO work, to commercial and journalistic work. Find out more about the artist and her 'unexpected' practice through this exclusive episode, NOW!

Let us dive into the anthropological realism of the Company Paintings. Image Credits: Bonhams; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

In this episode of the podcast, we will briefly examine monolithic structures from the Pallava dynasty, which became precursors to future Dravida temples. Continuing along similar lines, we will also explore these monolithic structures to understand their functions and purposes.

As you might recall, in the previous episode our discussion focused on the Udayagiri caves — highlighting how a monolithic structure became a social, cultural, and political emblem. Due to royal patrons and their secular support for various faiths, there was a fundamental evolution of art and architecture in the Indian subcontinent. Artistic production and development from the onset of regional dynasties relied primarily on two factors: patronage and religion. Specifically, architectural expansion often began with the rock-cut method, producing devotional monolithic structures as well as sculptures.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details)

Image credits: Arian Zwegers

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani. 

Sathi Guin’s works aspire to search and create an identity amidst several entities. Her paintings provide a platform not only for her exploration of her ”self” but as a means to be a part of another more real world. In this one of a kind podcast, learn more about the artist.

Pahari paintings marked the end of the long standing themes and subjects of God, royal ways of exquisite living and love commissioned by the Rajput rulers. Image Credits: qgGV_J7YgKTe9A at Google Cultural Institute; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

Tune in as we scan the depths of the earliest palm leaf miniatures and their contribution to Rajasthani miniature. Image Credits: Bani Thani - National Museum, New Delhi; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

Grimanesa Amorós is an interdisciplinary light artist creating site-specific monumental sculptures. Her work’s unique relationship to technology engages viewers in dialogue with cultural legacies, architecture, and the surrounding community. In a one of a kind podcast, learn more about the early life of the artist, and what inspires her current practice!

Ankon Mitra is an architect by training and an artist by temperament, with a keen interest in the geometry and mathematics of trees, flowers, hills and coastlines. Through the initiative ‘Oritecture’ he is exploring the linkages and uses of Origami in Design and Architecture. The studio has completed a number of restaurant, retail, facade and spatial projects created with the folded technique in metal (aluminium, steel and brass).  In this one of a kind podcast, learn about the artist's famous 'folding' technique.

We take you to the Vijaynagara architecture and frescoes at Hampi, where the essence of that prosperous empire has long-lived in its structures and in the collective memory of the people. Written and hosted by Ayushi Chaurasia 

We are back with Deccan miniature paintings with a flavour of mystery, imagination and poetry. Written and hosted by Ayushi Chaurasia. Image credits: http://www.indianart.ru/eng/of_the_deccan/1.php

Shailee Mehta's artistic practice stems from an ongoing dialogue between a personal space of imagination and nostalgia, and the political knottings of history, memory and contemporary society. Working extensively with elements of figuration and embodiment, she situates the female body as a central agential motif in her explorations around femininity and visibility.  In this one of kind podcast, experience the artist's life and motifs!

Murari Jha is a New Delhi-based visual and performance artist. His multimedia practice explores personal as political narratives, the psychological processing of everyday socio-political occurrences, the transformation of the body by the environment and the temporal regimes it occupies, and the performativity of objects and spectatorship. In this one of a kind podcast, delve deep into the life of Murari and find out what shaped the life and the art of the Artist!

We create a build-up right from the start of Delhi sultanate to the Mughals only to reach Hamzanama, a prolific compilation of miniature paintings detailing the adventures of Hamza, the fantastical uncle of Prophet Mohammad. Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia, Image credits: Victoria and Albert Museum

In this episode of the podcast, we shall delve into the fascinating world of Dravida temples. While we have briefly studied Nagara and its subdivisions in the north, Dravida temples predominantly belong to southern India, with Vesara temples found in the central part. Whether you find yourself in the temples of Tamil Nadu or the grand structures of Rajasthan, each temple tells a story of devotion, artistry, and the enduring legacy of India’s rich architectural heritage.

We’ll take a look at how gopurams of Dravida temples are not merely decorative; but also function as gateways — marking the transition from the secular to the sacred — and how, the Dravida style, with its focus on precision and detailed sculptures, contrasts with the Nagara style’s emphasis on verticality and ornate spires.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details)

Image credits: Rajaraman Sundaram

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani.

Cholas, the temple building polities were quite adept at sculptures and architecture. In this episode we discuss their temples and sculptures. Listen for more. Written by Ayushi Chaurasia/ Image Credits: Freer Gallery

The Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples and sculptures at Mamallapuram built by Pallavas would influence the architecture of Hindu temple building in centuries to come. Listen for more. Written by Ayushi Chaurasia/ Image Credits: Bernard Gagnon

Mathura is so overused in the contemporary religious narrative, without ever mentioning the immense artefacts it holds from time immemorial. Listen for more. Written and Hosted by Ayushi Chaurasia. Image Credits: Biswarup Ganguly

This one is all about the Greeks who were Buddhists. Basically Buddhism was taking rounds in Afghanistan and Pakistan around 90 BCE. And the new age Buddha sculptures were a hit all over. Listen for more.

Manisha Gera Baswani is a painter, photographer and occasional writer. Her visual language is defined by an assertiveness that makes the universe of the mind visible, not just to the eye.
Each rhythmic composition she creates becomes a testimony to her joy in the act of painting.  

In this one of a kind podcast, learn about the artist's early life, inspiration and a very special project, on the partition of India through the eyes of 47 artists from both sides of the border, 'Postcards from Home'! 

The strict Hinayana's narrative resources were limited. In this scarcity the artists built on the already established narrative techniques but this time to tell complex stories through art. Listen for more. Written by Ayushi Chaurasia. Image credits: Sahapedia

Episode 8 takes the listeners to Madhya Pradesh of 100 BCE, where a new Stupa has taken shape. The multilingual artists and artisans who made Bharhut Stupa not just took the evolution of narrative art some notches further but also started engraving their names at the site of their creation. Listen for more.

In episode seven, we discuss the evolution of art and architecture of Sanchi stupa; from the advent of Buddhism in India and then later through the patronage of other dynasties 400 years after Buddha's death.

Via episode 6 we enter into the modern metropolitan landscape of Buddhism of Ashoka Maurya's time. We talk about how polity and religion intermingled, and resulted in wide-scale public projects and installations. 

Image credits: M Amitav Ghosh, kevinstandagehotography,  Ayushi Chaurasia

In this episode of the podcast, we delve into the magnificent Sun temples of ancient India, exploring the evolution of Nagara styles, including Kalinga and Bhumija. We’ll discover how to identify these distinct styles and examine the patronage of the Solanki dynasty, who built the iconic Modhera Sun temple in western India.

We’ll also marvel at the Sun temple of Konark, and explore the iconography of Lord Surya and its variations. Get ready to uncover the secrets of these architectural wonders and gain a deeper appreciation for India’s rich cultural heritage.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details)

Image credits: Shresth Raj

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani.

This episode is a continuation to episode 4, here we talk about the objects of daily uses, artistic occupations, and metaphors of the Vedic society through the evolution of the oppressive caste system.

Achia Anzi is a multimedia artist who takes inspiration from books, objects, people, and ideas. Whether through his installations, sculptures or video work, Anzi often attempts to portray not only his own feelings but also the crisis experienced by his home country, Israel. In this one of a kind podcast, delve deeper into the life and art of Achia Anzi!

Our host takes us to and fro, shuttling in the expanse of 1500 BC to 500 BC, when the Vedic literature was being written down. These literary sources not only are the prescribed way of living for what came to be modern day Hinduism but also are the inception of age old institutions and traditions that are the hallmark of Hindu religion such as caste based discrimination and fire sacrifices, among many others. Through rituals such as these we find art.

The organizer's of Delhi Art Week come together with MASH India in a conversation that delves into the spirit of the art world of Delhi to form a week's worth of celebration of the art community! Learn the story behind the first edition of DAW, a new independent and collaborative initiative by the city's private galleries, art and cultural institutions, and museums.

Episode 3 takes the dear listeners to the fantastical world of the collective imaginations of the Indus Valley Civilization. The host carefully talks about the excavated artefacts of Indus Valley excavation sites. Together we explore various aspects of the artefacts and sculptures found there. 

Episode 2 takes the dear listeners to the immaculate urban, rural and slum architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization. It links the study of their architecture to the study of their society. Interestingly, the episode takes a bend to the terracotta figurines and other excavations at the Harappan sites, which once again throws some light at their society's ritualistic practises creating an aura of knowledge around the perceived genders of their society. 

While a lot of speculation has been made, a lot of thought arrows have been projectiled into the proto-historic study of the Indus Valley people, factual uncertainty still prevails. Your host, Ayushi Chaurasia rather dwells on this uncertainty a bit extravagantly.

Image credits: National Museum, New Delhi

Episode 1 takes the listeners to the magical cave art of our prehistoric folk. Cave paintings are openings to our understanding of our current day ritualistic practices through those that existed 10,000 years ago.  Many stories will unfold through the first pieces of art ever created within the modern day Indian subcontinent. You will be surprised to know that we are not very different from our prehistoric ancestors, when it comes to preserving our well being. The Indian Art History series is hosted by Ayushi Chaurasia, an archivist and a collagist.

Tarini Sethi studied art at Pratt institute and went on to participate in several group shows in New York where her style developed. She has been working as a fine artist for the last few years and has participated in shows in India and around the world. In parallel, she has also been curating art shows for the last four years to give a platform to independent artists to showcase their work. She is the founder and curator of the Irregulars Art Fair; India's first anti art fair.

Through her art, she explores themes of human intimacy and tries to break the taboo of body-consciousness and sexuality. Her work constantly revolves around the idea of “Utopias” She draws inspiration from folk tales, architecture of cities and stories of kings and queens alongside twists and turns of modern day politics. Her work unveils identity while exploring sexuality within personal spaces, both architectural and cerebral.

We bring to you a brand new series by MASH podcast, revolving around the various facets of Indian Art right from the prehistoric times while mapping a journey all the way to contemporary art. Our journey expands through time and space as we explore art piece by piece. The podcast is hosted by Ayushi Chaurasia, an archivist and a collage artist. This is an introductory episode.The podcast works its way around finding rarities and at the same time also revisiting popular works of art. The podcast also always puts it out in the universe that there are always multiple ways of looking at art. There is no one way.

The podcast is an attempt to understand the tales of plurality, diversity and contradictions of the people and culture of Indian subcontinent which can very well be mapped by the diverse art practices that have existed in tandem and with collaborative spirits throughout time.

Youdhisthir Maharjan was born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1984. He attended military boarding school for ten years, studying sciences and mathematics. He received his undergraduate degree in creative writing and art history from New England College in New Hampshire, and an M.F.A. in conceptual printmaking from the University of Idaho. His text-based works have been published and exhibited internationally. His techniques are old and new at the same time. Many of his drawings and collages evoke the graphic conventions. Because of his aim of going to medical school, his visual conventions of the scientific texts find their way into some of his works. His approach to text is definitely scientific, methodical, and algorithmic. In this one of a kind podcast, learn more about the artist!

In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss the Nagara-style temples, and deep dive into the tremendous merger of socio-cultural elements with religion during the Chandella dynasty. We shall discuss the exceptional and infamous Khajuraho temples.

We’ll try to answer some pertinent questions — who were the Chandellas, and what inspired them to build the Khajuraho temples? What has successive research concluded about the meaning and symbolism of the erotic sculptures on the temple?

Further, we will arrive at the patronage by the Chandellas by discussing the Khajurao temples, which include Kandariya Mahadeo and Lakshmana temples. We’ll study the significance of the erotic sculptures and their symbolic inclination, and try to understand the concept of sacred and secular in the temple.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Image credits: Dey Alexander, Flickr

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani.

Brought up on a plantation in Munnar, located at the edge of a forest, PR Satheesh forged a strong bond with nature in his early years. From Munnar in Kerala to Mumbai—the artist takes conventional stereotypes—breaks them and finds ways of creating permutations and combinations that create a synergy of Pollockian canvasses filled with conversations about the complexities of life’s multiple frameworks. His art speaks for itself but in this one of a kind podcast, learn more about the artist's life and source of inspiration for his creations!

Surekha is a contemporary Indian video artist whose works showcase themes including identity and feminism/ecology. She has been a full-time artist since 1996 and her video works have been shown at galleries outside India since 2001. Her works are known for the mix of video and physical presence, highlighting inherent experiences. Surekha has been exploring the possibilities of the video form, negotiating the public and private, locating the body as a site of contestation and appropriation. She uses photography and video to archive, document and perform. She has shown her works both in India and many international shows. Learn more about the artist's early life and inspiration to her diverse expressions. 

Sachin George Sebastian graduated in Communication Design from National Insitute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. His practice with paper and pop-up books led him to participate in a residency at Khoj on The Idea of the Book in 2009, following which he started working as independent artist. He has shown his works in various shows in India and outside.  In this one of a kind podcast, get an insight into the artist's life now!

A graduate of New York’s Parsons School of Design, the Franco-Indian-Norwegian designer’s focus on art-like textiles is what earned her multiple emerging designer awards since her launch in 2018. The brand’s core sensibility lies in the interaction between hand and material - every piece is about textural processes and surface treatments: she personally paints each fabric, meaning no two pieces are ever the same. The label also spans across jewelry and interiors, as Helena believes all forms of design are intrinsically connected and hopes to keep expanding her aesthetic to whichever medium may welcome it.