Nataraja is a depiction of the god Shiva as the Lord of the Dance, a role that makes him one of Hinduism’s most important deities—his cosmic dance controls the rhythm of life and death. The dance pervades the universe, symbolized in iconic Nataraja sculptures, like the medieval Chola bronze above, by a ring of fire and the god’s flowing, serpentine locks of hair.
The iconic nature of this medieval Nataraja bronze is not incidental: the exceptional craftsmanship is the culmination of a deep, centuries-old tradition of metalworking prowess in southern India.
Join Dr. Sharada Srinivasan from the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru, India for a talk exploring the unique blend of art, technology, philosophy, and dance in this Nataraja bronze.
About the Speaker
Dr. Sharada Srinivasan is a professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India. She has made pioneering contributions in the scientific study of art, archaeology, and archaeometallurgy and was elected international Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021 in Archaeology. She is also an acclaimed performer of Bharat Natyam and has given numerous lecture-demonstrations, such as the artistic and scientific perspectives on the Nataraja Bronze.
Dr. Srinivasan is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and World Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received multiple research awards, including the Indian National Academy of Engineering Woman Engineer of the Year Award (2021), UKEIRI (UK-India Education and Research Initiative) award, Dr. Kalpana Chawla Young Women Scientist Award (2011), and the Materials Research Society of India Medal (2006). In 2019, she received the Padma Shri from the Government of India for her contributions to the field.
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