Curatorial Talk

Through the historical lens of Indian Cinema

24.01.23 | 18.00 | Free | Auditorium

Ever watched a Bollywood movie unfold on canvas? Or just with your ears? Let us take you back to the time when the richness of a story could only be conveyed through a painter, singer, performer, or storyteller with handmade props.

Hélène Kessous, anthropologist and specialist in Indian cinema, and Julien Rousseau, curator of the Asian collections atMusée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac discuss the living traditions of travelling storytellers, traditional dances, shadow theatres, and magic lanterns as they take you through a journey in time

Moderated by Aisha AlAhmadi, Curatorial Assistant at Louvre Abu Dhabi, our exclusive 1-hour talk with the exhibition curators will retrace the story of Indian cinema from its beginnings in the late 19th century up until the presentand explore how the father of Indian art, Raja Ravi Varma, inspired the industry.

Hélène Kessous

Hélène Kessous holds a doctorate in social anthropology and ethnology from the École des hautes études en sciences sociales: The whiteness of the skin in India.

Julien Rousseau

Julien comes with a background in anthropology and oriental studies (INALCO). He is the curator of the Asian collection at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac.

Simultaneous translation will be available from English to Arabic and French.

Limited seats.

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