Tawa'if: The Life and Art of The Last Courtesans

Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London
Tawa'if: The Life and Art of The Last Courtesans image
Ad
Event has ended
This event ended on Sunday 6th of September 2015
Admission
Free
Venue Information
Royal Geographical Society
1 Kensington Gore , SW7 2AR
Nearest Tube/Rail Stations
South Kensington 0.51 miles

A unique view into a forgotten past…

The tawa’if, the courtesans of Mughal India, were figures who embodied a world of refinement through their mastery of poetry, music and dance. Celebrated by the Mughals for their intellect, talent and beauty, the tawa’if were considered authorities on art, etiquette and culture, yet today, ‘tawa’if’ is the common word in Hindi for prostitute.

Caught in the tide of a fast changing India at the dawn of the 20th century, the tawa’if were scorned by the Victorians as debauchers and driven out of the halls of high society. However, even as their numbers dwindled and many found themselves forced into sex work, the tawa’if fought to save their rich cultural traditions. Some became household names, the equivalent of modern A-list celebrities, they were the first recording artists and film stars, paving the way for the heroines of Bollywood. Yet today the tawa’if, who were once held in such high esteem, have been forgotten by history, remembered only as prostitutes.

As part of their ongoing Lost Traditions season of events, the Asian Music Circuit presents Tawa’if, a new exhibition exploring the life, art and fall from grace of these truly extraordinary historical and cultural figures. An audio visual experience, the exhibition follows the story of the tawa’if from the cultural renaissance of the mid-19th century to their modern day incarnation in the dancing bars of Dehli and Kolkata.

Open from 4th-6th September at the Royal Geographic society in Kensington, on the 5th September 2pm -4pm, the exhibition will host an open forum on Women in Entertainment featuring talks by field leading researchers, Dr Anna Morcom and Dr Richard Williams. A unique view into the forgotten past of Indian and Britain’s complex cultural history, Tawa’if breathes life into a bygone era through early paintings, photographs and sound recordings of these forgotten female artists.

Tags: Exhibition

User Reviews

There are no user reviews