Reclaiming Public Spaces on Wheels

In a bold performance art piece, skateboarding star Asha Gond circles a quaint mall near Saket’s prominent Select City Walk, her skateboard wheels gliding effortlessly as she drops A4-sized sheets of resistance poetry. The radio on her wrist blares Vilas Ghogre’s "Katha Suno Re Logo," a poignant protest song rooted in the 17th-century Indian powada tradition, which challenges modern feudalism and the caste system. She's then joined by the rapper duo, Vaastav Ek 7, sing their music that empahsises on the daily struggles of life. Gond and Vaastav Ek 7’s performance, featuring poems turned into paper airplanes by fellow skateboarders, blends protest, community, and laughter in an unexpected public space.

This dynamic performance, titled Black Mask on Roller Skates, was conceptualized by artist Amol K Patil. Patil had also painted a series of artworks by the same name. The title close to Patil's art found it's way into a performance art exhibit, hosted by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art as part of their Rolling Museum initiative. Led by Avik Debdas, the initiative aims to democratize art by bringing diverse artistic forms into everyday urban, suburban, and rural life. Grounded in the philosophical concept of 'praxis'—the embodiment and realization of theory and skills through public engagement—the program invites artists, groups, and collectives to participate in various public interventions and community activities.

Patil reflects on his inspiration for the project: “When I first thought of this exhibition, my plan was to exhibit it in an old factory because of where I come from. I was born in Bombay but my grandfather, a powada singer, came from a village in Maharashtra. Powada initially was only an art form for the working class but then started being used for protest. My grandfather used to travel to different places, talk about the community, their culture and music. I resonated with him because I always travel to different countries and cities to represent my own community." He turned his art into a performance because of his lineage of performers, who advocated for their rights. The Powada music incorporates the thunderous beat of the dholak, the occasional strum of the harmonium, and the distinctive sound of the ektara, all integral to their politics. These elements infuse the event with a sense of pride, courage, and critique of rulers.

The concept of integrating skating into the performance was inspired by Anil Tuebhekar, a close friend of Patil's father. “He is an amazing scriptwriter by night and a cleaner during the dawn. He wears normal skates every day, puts on earphones, and cleans Mumbai’s roads in style,” Patil notes. This inspiration led to the creation of kinetic skates with brushes, which was used in the initial version of Black Mask on Roller Skates, performed in Kassel, Germany, with ten skaters. When the performance was brought to India, Patil sought to add new dimensions, incorporating skateboarder Asha Gond and rappers like Vaastav Ek 7 to enhance its impact.

Asha Gond and Vaastav Ek 7 added a lot more nuances to Patil performance art. Coming from the Gond community in the village of Janwar, Madhya Pradesh, Asha had to face her own sets of struggle and discrimination due to prejudice against her tribe and gender. “When I first started skateboarding, it was incredibly challenging. Being a girl from a village with strong prejudices against my community from the society made it difficult. My family was initially opposed to skateboarding, and the community also didn’t support my choice. They questioned why I was spending time with boys and pressured me about marriage instead of pursuing my passion.” Gond’s performance not only embodies her resilience but also highlights the transformative power of art and activism in reclaiming public spaces for marginalized voices.

Whereas, Sahil and Sumit of Vaastav Ek 7, coming from Delhi's urban village of Khirkee, want to bring attention to their struggles and realities through rap. They articulate their vision: “Our name, Vaastav, translates to ‘reality,’ which reflects our mission to convey something real through our songs. The '7' is the pin code of Khirki and symbolizes our shared experiences and community.” When they were asked to perform for Black Mask on Roller Skates, they were elated. They viewed skating as a form of storytelling that complements their music. “Skating has its own narrative, just like our music. There’s a story behind every trick and movement,” they explain. “Through skating, we can show different aspects of our personality and background, which can add depth to our representation of hip hop music.”

By blending traditional and contemporary forms, from the historic powada to modern skate culture and rap, this project challenges societal norms and celebrates resilience. As Gond skates through the mall, dispersing poetry and evoking historical protest song, Vaastav EK 7 rap their hearts out and as Patil’s vision and the Rolling Museum initiative push the boundaries of art’s accessibility, this event underscores the dynamic intersection of history, culture, and personal struggle. In doing so, it invites us to reflect on the ways art can transform public spaces and inspire collective change in an ever-evolving world.


Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 27.08.2024