Ansuman Biswas

Ansuman Biswas is a Lecturer in Live Art and Contemporary Performance at Queen Mary University of London’s School of English and Drama. He holds a BA (Hons) in Drama from Dartington College of Arts and has a multifaceted career spanning music, theatre, visual art, and interdisciplinary collaborations. His work bridges science, art, and spirituality, emphasizing improvisation, consciousness, and Indian philosophical traditions. Notable roles include serving as External Examiner at Westminster University, Co-Chair of the Live Art Development Agency, and Trustee of Longplayer. His research explores vipassana meditation’s impact on artistic practice, with projects like the Horniman Museum’s Time Sculptor examining time manipulation through performance, installations, and poetry. Biswas has held residencies globally, collaborating with institutions like the European Space Agency, Schumacher College, and the National Institute of Medical Research. His creative practice includes composing for major theaters (e.g., Shakespeare’s Globe, Royal National Theatre) and touring with artists like Björk and Oasis. Biswas’s work often challenges boundaries between disciplines and cultures, fostering innovative intersections between art, technology, and ecology.

Education: BA Hons in Drama from Manchester University and Music at Dartington College of Arts. Previous academic roles include Senior Lecturer at Dartington College of Arts (developing an MA in Arts & Ecology), Creative Director of the Tagore Centre UK (2013–2016), and Lecturer at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2017–2020). He has pioneered interdisciplinary projects at Hewlett-Packard’s Bangalore lab and been an artist-in-residence at NASA-related initiatives. His artistic collaborations span diverse fields, from neuroscientists in Arizona to nomadic shamans in the Gobi Desert.

Research focuses on listening as a transformative practice, improvisation’s role in uncovering unconscious creativity, and the application of meditation principles in art. Recent work includes the pandemic-era Infectious Air series exploring Zoom-based improvisation and the Social Intimacy project with Theatre of Research. His projects often involve experimental venues (e.g., Gothic towers, underwater sculptures) and emphasize ethical engagement with communities and environments.

Publications span performance theory, musicology, and interdisciplinary art criticism, with notable contributions to Posthuman Spiritualities in Contemporary Performance and Music & Consciousness. His artistic works have been exhibited at Tate Modern, the Whitechapel Gallery, and festivals worldwide. Biswas’s pedagogical approach integrates experiential learning, mentorship, and cross-cultural dialogue, reflecting his commitment to fluid identity and collaborative innovation.