How Bengaluru’s transwomen are reclaiming the city, one click at a time
2 years, 6 months ago

How Bengaluru’s transwomen are reclaiming the city, one click at a time

The Hindu  

When mural artist Shanthi Muniswamy was handed a digital camera, the one image she really wanted to capture was that of a bougainvillea, resplendent in the sunrise. The journey to many such photographs shot by Shanthi and other transgender artists of the Aravani Art Project finds a place in Kathegala Kanive, a documentary directed by Vikas Badiger. She also saw how reclaiming public spaces through art — where they are most vulnerable, fearing attack and humiliation — altered people’s perspectives. But I’m yet to see public spaces that are actually inclusive and welcoming of all transgender people.” As a filmmaker, Vikas wants people to engage with more non-fiction content and points to his recent work The Spirit Circle, a documentary on ultimate frisbee — the world’s only mixed gender sport — currently streaming on Apple TV. I’d urge people to watch as well as actively involve themselves in creating non-fiction work centred around South India, especially Bengaluru.”

Art Bengaluru Women Camera City Public Spaces Project Vikas Shanthi  project  vikas  click  women  documentary  bengaluru  art  bengalurus  city  nonfiction  transwomen  camera  reclaiming  spaces

History of this topic

Aravani Art Project’s first solo show is about resistance
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Aravani Art Project’s first solo show is about resistance

The Hindu  

Almost a decade ago, a group of transwomen painted a mural in Bengaluru’s bustling K.R Market, beginning their journey of talking about inclusivity and equality through art. The ongoing exhibition, On the Cusp of the Eighth Day, at Mumbai’s Gallery XXL showcases the life and works of about 13 transwomen from the Aravani Art Project, a trans and cis women-led …

Aravani Art Project: A solo show that marks a collective journey
1 month ago

Aravani Art Project: A solo show that marks a collective journey

Live Mint  

For nine years, the Bengaluru-based trans and cis women art collective Aravani Art Project has been using murals as a tool to bring visibility around discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. While subverting stereotypes, the vibrant paintings created by the group 2025 marks a significant chapter in the collective’s journey as it completes nine years. “While public spaces allow …

Trans community should celebrate their identities despite adversity: Qween Jean
4 months, 1 week ago

Trans community should celebrate their identities despite adversity: Qween Jean

New Indian Express  

Emphasising the importance of solidarity between marginalised communities, Qween Jean, the New York-based human rights leader and founder of the Black Trans Liberation Movement, drew parallels between the Black civil rights movement in the U.S. and the Dalit rights movement in India. During her keynote address, Qween Jean highlighted the power of art and community in driving social change, stressing …

Bengaluru street art tackles women’s safety, drug abuse, and cybercrime
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Bengaluru street art tackles women’s safety, drug abuse, and cybercrime

The Hindu  

Graffiti for Hope, an initiative spearheaded by Rotary International, has brought social issues to the forefront. Project coordinator, Nivedita Dutta, envisioned an enduring, impactful method of raising awareness about women’s safety, drug abuse, and cybercrime — three of the most pressing issues identified by the Bengaluru Police. “Street art sticks in people’s minds long after an event or campaign has …

Art project by LGBTQIA members brings Ecoworld underpass to life
1 year, 1 month ago

Art project by LGBTQIA members brings Ecoworld underpass to life

The Hindu  

Aravani Art Project and Brookfield Properties unveiled an art project promoting inclusivity at the recently built underpass in Ecoworld. “Through vibrant colours and bold strokes, this newly unveiled art project beautifully captures the rich tapestry of the LGBT community, weaving stories of diversity, resilience, and love onto the canvas of understanding.” said Kalpen, a member of the community. The Aravani …

A new mural captures Bengaluru’s diverse gender community
1 year, 1 month ago

A new mural captures Bengaluru’s diverse gender community

Live Mint  

A recently built underpass inside Ecoworld, a tech park in Bengaluru's Bellandur area that encloses public roads, has been transformed into an artwork that celebrates diverse gender identities. The artwork aims to create awareness about gender inclusivity by the Indian public art collective Aravani Art Project in collaboration with real estate developer Brookfield Properties. The artwork, painted by 13 transgender …

Bengaluru is flexing its cultural muscle
1 year, 3 months ago

Bengaluru is flexing its cultural muscle

The Hindu  

Bengaluru is a shapeshifter. RavichandarHonorary director, Bangalore International Centre Bringing things closer home “These kinds of large, city-wide platforms remind people of the city’s active calendar of events,” says artist Abishek Ganesh Jayashree of Kaimurai, one of the participants of ‘The Makers’ Trail’, an event organised by Architectural Digest India’s founding editor Manju Sara Rajan as part of UBH. “The …

Bengaluru embraces diversity and celebrates pride month with inclusive spirit
1 year, 8 months ago

Bengaluru embraces diversity and celebrates pride month with inclusive spirit

The Hindu  

In a colourful celebration of love, acceptance, and equality, Pride Month takes centre stage every June, with the vibrant energy of the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies worldwide. We have established a place called the Beru Art and Cultural Foundation, which is very open and welcome to artists from the LGBTQIA+ community, through which we have made this dance-drama now.” …

Looking back at 25 years of Khoj’s commitment to social art practices
2 years, 2 months ago

Looking back at 25 years of Khoj’s commitment to social art practices

Live Mint  

In Khirkee, a significant exhibition has been on view since November. True to the organisation’s commitment to socially-engaged art, this show, ‘Threading the Horizon’, too brings together 14 community-based projects from across India. So, the earliest residencies involved talking to shopkeepers, showcasing projects on the street, getting kids in the neighbourhood to draw maps or take photos with the single-roll …

A photo exhibition on inspiring tales of resilience
2 years, 6 months ago

A photo exhibition on inspiring tales of resilience

Live Mint  

During the initial phase of the pandemic, Ujjwala Patil, or Ujjwala tai, a Koli fisherwoman from Mumbai, saw that their community was facing severe livelihood challenges. In September 2020, Priya Babu initiated the Trans Kitchen project to help the transgender community in Coimbatore. There are 20 such inspiring stories featured inOnward Together, a photo exhibition which opens today at Indian …

Art collectives from the North-East focus on the community
2 years, 10 months ago

Art collectives from the North-East focus on the community

Live Mint  

What forms can a book take? This unique experiment was conducted in January by the Assam-based Anga Art Collective as part of kNOw School, a travelling school initiative that looks beyond set curricula and teaching methods, inspiring children to think anew about ways to bring together contemporary art forms and local material. Jayanta Mili with his artist book, which he …

India Art Fair 2022: Aravani Art Project celebrates feeling femme
2 years, 10 months ago

India Art Fair 2022: Aravani Art Project celebrates feeling femme

Live Mint  

As one walks up to the NSIC grounds, where the India Art Fair is currently taking place, a 50-feet-long mural keeps you company. Presented by the Saffronart Foundation and painted by the Aravani Art Project, it depicts a vision for a free and open society, unshackled by stereotypes and mental blocks about gender. According to Poornima Sukumar, director, Aravani Art …

Kanimozhi meets transwomen, discusses art, culture and ideas
2 years, 10 months ago

Kanimozhi meets transwomen, discusses art, culture and ideas

The Hindu  

It was a surreal moment for transwoman M. Nila when Thoothukudi Lok Sabha MP K. Kanimozhi recognised her and the song she had composed. Besides her, for a bunch of other transwomen who had met her recently for breakfast, discussing about art and culture, exchanging ideas and even painting a canvas with her, was like a dream come true. Ms. …

How queer art is changing conversations around the LGBTQIA + community
4 years, 6 months ago

How queer art is changing conversations around the LGBTQIA + community

The Hindu  

“One of the highs of my career as an artist was when a person I met at an exhibition wrote to me about how he had used one of my paintings to come out to his parents, something he had struggled with for years,” says Veer Misra, a 24-year old graphic designer, illustrator and artist. Even as the Central Government …

Indian art world's #MeToo reckoning: Toxic patriarchal conditioning must be dismantled for true change – Firstpost
5 years, 4 months ago

Indian art world's #MeToo reckoning: Toxic patriarchal conditioning must be dismantled for true change – Firstpost

Firstpost  

Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part column by art writer and critic Rosalyn D’Mello on the patriarchal conditioning at the core of the Indian art world, which has impeded a meaningful engagement with the #MeToo movement. pic.twitter.com/rZOgMRIcel — #MeTooIndia October 5, 2019 When @MeTooIndia tweeted a picture of the email, because it had been included in the …

Aravani Project to UR/Unreserved: Five Indian art collectives that made 2017 a better year
7 years, 2 months ago

Aravani Project to UR/Unreserved: Five Indian art collectives that made 2017 a better year

Firstpost  

This article is part of our 2017: A Year In Review series As a year, 2017 was defined by many things: Trump vs CNN, One Love Manchester, Ivanka Trump’s India visit, unicorn frappuccinos to name a few. Objective 2018: “This year we want to get bigger — and smaller!,” says Viktor Baskin of the Aravani Art Project. Art without borders: …

Art in Transit: Bengaluru's dialogues with present
8 years, 4 months ago

Art in Transit: Bengaluru's dialogues with present

Deccan Chronicle  

Bengaluru: What is a story without a current narrative? It is nothing but a ghost from the past bundled with hopes for the future, says Amitabh Kumar, the brain behind Art in Transit, an initiative that believes in depicting the ‘now’ through brush strokes. He said, “When we were researching to see how we could reclaim public spaces through art, …

Transforming the concept of beauty
8 years, 9 months ago

Transforming the concept of beauty

Deccan Chronicle  

There is happiness in their eyes, hope in their smile, and confidence beams with each pose. The eight bold photographs featuring three Malayali transgender models - Sheetal, Deepthi, and Sonu - clicked by the noted photographer Harikrishnan, have an untold story to narrate to every spectator. ‘Trans, a transformation for life’, a photography exhibition happening at Durbar Hall Art Gallery, …

Engendered art
12 years, 1 month ago

Engendered art

The Hindu  

The figure of a woman with her lips sewed and her hair standing up brought alive the agony of violence at home which is only spoken of in hushed tones. A plethora of voices against various forms of gender-based violence emerged from a temporal art intervention, aptly titled “Resist”, organised in Delhi over the weekend. For Bani Pershad, a Delhi-based …

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