Asia TOPA: Bread, Circuses and Home

Consume the sights, tastes and sounds of Punjab in this free public installation and performance series about migration and resilience by artists Jiten Thukral (Jalandhar, Punjab) and Sumir Tagra (New Delhi). Inspired by the artist’s research in Melbourne and their ongoing work with migrant communities, this work takes its cue from the urgent agricultural crisis faced by Punjabi farmers in India. Year on year, generational divisions of land, climate change, politics and inadequate laws have severely affected Pubjabi farmers’ livelihoods, forcing many to relocate their lives, including to Australia. Drawing inspiration from the act of kushti (a form of traditional Indian wrestling) and the wrestling ground Akhara, Bread, Circuses and Home is a seven-day-long, vibrant display of Punjabi folk music, radio programming and interactive game plays. Gather with the Punjabi community to learn, share meals, reflect and celebrate.