Crispin Branfoot

Reader in the History of South Asian art and archaeology at SOAS, University of London, and Beckley resident.

In this illustrated pub talk, Crispin will explore the production, function and reception of one of the most famous images of Hindu art: the four-armed Shiva dancing in a ring of fire. First cast in bronze in the 8-9th centuries CE, images of Hindu gods were carried in procession in and around the many monumental stone temples built during the Chola empire in medieval south India. Hindu images of Nataraja took on new lives from the early 20th century, as works of art in museum collections and as signifiers of the 'Mystic East'.

The talk has been recorded. To request access to the recording, please email info@bacbs.org.