The theme of this solo project is liberation, which for me means freeing oneself from personal expectations, external demands, limiting norms, and oppressive rules. To free oneself involves challenging established oppressive structures, while simultaneously strengthening the authenticity of the individual and the community, and actively working towards new utopias. I aim to create this project to inspire the audience to begin or continue conscious processes of liberation. The project is also a healing process, both for myself and for those who participate in or are affected by the work.
Haranni Umakanthan (they/them) is a dance artist and choreographer. They are based in Oslo and have roots in Tamil Eelam. Their practice focuses on healing through movement, text, and voice. Haranni draws inspiration from, among other things, Bharatanatyam, improvisation, and contact improvisation. In their creative projects, they explore themes such as decolonization, intersectionality, gender, sexuality, and culture. They are also deeply interested in site-specific work and in being audience-aware in their artistic processes and works.