Varun the Puppeteer

Varun the Puppeteer

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Puppet Characters inspired by Botany

Dr Hara at an interaction with members at the Stortinget (Parliament House, Oslo)

Dr Hara at an interaction with members at the Stortinget (Parliament House, Oslo)

Dr. Hara

'Dr. Hara' the half plant and half human character who was the survivor of an 'experiment' was created in 2015 as a mascot for the inauguration of the Office for Climate Cange at The Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi. This character has inspired some structured shows as well as interactions around issues of Climate change, Gender and the naturalness of queerness.



'Photosynthesis by Moonlight' (2016)

'I am a plant' (2020)

'Dark & Delicious'(2024)


Below: A short compilation of performances about Nature, Fluidity and Queerness.

Gender Non-Conforming Characters

Cernunnos from 'Omar in the Underworld'

Cernunnos from 'Omar in the Underworld'


My search for the fluidity of life began in 2015. It was Inspired by the work of Indian Scientist J.C.Bose and more contemporary discouses by Evolutionary biologist Lynn Margilus, Ecologist Suzan Simrad and Biologist Merlin Sheldrake. My attempt was to invert what all this while was considered as the background for a scene into the main story with diverse protagonists who had non human centric narratives. 


My puppet characters were animated, life sized, human and non human. Each had a specific perception of the anthropocene. They asked questions about systems and definitions that manipulate life.


They interacted with audiences at their work places as well as in nature. They collaborate with other gender fluid performance artists.






Below:

Excerpts from a collaboration with Open Drag Stage,

Oslo






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