Broken White V Zachenta

November, 2011
Commissioned by and Performed at Zachęta National Museum, Warsaw
Photography by Magdalena Komornicka and Marek Krzyzanek
Costume Designer Oona Colliander

The big Indian contemporary art exhibition in Warsaw titled “Generation in Transition. New Art from India” was curated by Magda Kardasz. She invited Chopra to make a performance in the main foyer and staircase of their grand building. At the time Chopra was in an interesting conversation with his neighbour and Finnish designer Oona. She wanted to work together on a performance where she would design a costume. They collaborated and came up with the idea that she would build the costume on him out of paper, so delicate that by merely walking down the staircase slowly it would fall apart. It took Chopra 2 hours to make the journey from the top of the staircase to the bottom. At the bottom, on a large sheet of paper lay bottles, bowls and cups filled with molten chocolate and a bucket of cream. He smeared chocolate all over his body and floor and attempted to make a drawing of the staircase by scratching the chocolate covered paper. Chopra then poured mugs of cream all over himself, watched his costume disintegrate. He then slowly climbed back up the staircase.