Mohit Takalkar: Hunkaro

In modern society, where listening to others is often replaced with the consumption of visual media, Hunkaro – meaning ‘verbal affirmation’ in Marathi – is an important counterweight. This performance piece, co-presented by Ishara Art Foundation, invites the audience to practise the precious gift of attention through active, participatory listening.

It interweaves three stories of human trials and tribulations, tied together by the vital importance of hope and the impossibility of life without it. Using traditional singing and vocal techniques, the stories are narrated in different styles, languages and dialects by six professional actors. In the absence of musical instruments, the performers emphasise the aesthetic value of language and the importance of the spoken word.

There is a second performance on 18 February.

This is part of the second season of Perform Sharjah, Sharjah Art Foundation’s performance programme that invites you “to encounter new experiences while exploring the heritage houses and art spaces of the city”. Perform Sharjah is curated by Sharjah Art Foundation’s Director of Performance and Senior Curator Tarek Abou El Fetouh.