IDEAS & INTENTIONS
TW: Sexual violence
After visiting the India Art Fair in 2019 I was inspired by the genre of Installation which led to the creation of an artwork inspired by real-life events.
Towards the end of September, the Indian media published the Hathras gang-rape and murder case of a nineteen year old girl. The story created an uproar and unearthed multiple issues of Indian society that are often accepted and ignored due to its frequency in the news; casteism and women's safety have always been prevalent in India’s society. For a developing nation, many are still stuck in past traditions and ideologies that often-time hinder the progress of women's rights and acceptance of social classes. The description of the Hathras case evoked an emotional response from me and spurred the ideation of this project.
CRITICAL INVESTIGATION
I was inspired by Bharti Kher’s work with bindis. Her work with bindis also symbolises the female figure in Indian society.
The bindi is an accessory worn on a woman’s forehead, representing the third eye, and can be used to portray femininity and the identity of Indian women.
By abstracting the image of the bindi, Bharti Kher challenges the traditional role of women in contemporary Indian society.
I think installation art has become a key contemporary art form as it brought artworks beyond the walls of galleries and museums. Installations were integrated into public spaces and consequently could be more impactful and provide a stronger statement. Art and the messages of the creator were accessible to all and received a greater audience.
Supernova II Bharti Kher Image source: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589aba9de58c626130b70946/1498731841741-WSB41P4YX6YQZ8BOCBZG/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kLZlY-G8folIf809kFrrkYkUqsxRUqqbr1mOJYKfIPR7LoDQ9mXPOjoJoqy81S2I8N_N4V1vUb5AoIIIbLZhVYxCRW4BPu10St3TBAUQYVKc4p7Kr54o41mjwCJ97rhu4l1KdUHphOus7Vc_mMEgrtsHV5-eskdlIAwu9KQv9jO_/supernovaII+1.jpg?format=750w
Dark Matter MM Bharti Kher Image source: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/589aba9de58c626130b70946/1551424045970-QLZO3F4IUR2EGB21UUJX/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kIrvl_swbFQoCJuNoDPaM3t7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QHyNOqBUUEtDDsRWrJLTmUJhYbF90H-5_X8RF95sdnnk6nxdSJhO4VOlLbrwYbT_if6lHvSXOTpSKFF_HIhu1/1.jpg?format=500w
PURPOSE & FUNCTION
I wanted this installation to include an integration of words and images. The media today has the biggest influence over social traditions, opinions and movements. Through a combination of symbols and words, this installation takes the circular form and saturated red shade of the bindi and places it in the context of Indian society.
For my installation I decided to use newspaper cuttings, a mirror and bindis to convey my message. The frame of the mirror is covered with aged newspaper articles, leaving a small circle of the mirror exposed.
A woman sits in front of the mirror filling up the circle in 1/12 intervals (like the divisions of a clock) with bindis of different shades of red.
I capture the progression of each interval filling up by taking a photograph (after every 1/12). This then evolves into a series of photographs showing the bindis covering up the exposed mirror until half of the woman’s face is wiped out by the bindis.
My intended message through this progression is to show the disappearance of the female figure in Indian society and the lack of empowerment many women face even today.
I only use red bindis as the colour is a symbol of blood and violence as well as marriage and love.
The newspaper collage around the frame has headlines on the Hathras case and violence against women in India.
This changes the symbolism of a pure and feminine image to a gruesome and painful idea. I feel this makes the delivery of my message more powerful as it uses a simple shape and symbol to convey a complicated narrative that has been present for generations in Indian society.
PROCESS
I started by covering a flat framed mirror with a base layer of newspaper so the ridges of the frame did not create a dent mark in the final composition. The area was quite large so I had to use multiple layers and sizes to fit each corner. Once the base layers were done I started extracting headlines from newspapers over the last few months about the Hathras case and violence against women. I looked for additional keywords like ‘justice’ ‘government’ and ‘violence’ and collected them. With the headlines, I stuck them on top of my base layer of newspaper all in the same orientation so that they could be read easily when the mirror was upright.
I did one coat of tea wash on the mirror collage followed by a saturated wash using coffee grounds. I then used a wax candle and burned the edges of the paper along the frame, adding to the stained and aged look of the paper.
Once the collage had dried, I set up the position of the chair. I decided to use a traditional Indian stool made of bamboo and used artificial yellow (warm) lighting to illuminate the space. I did not want to use natural light as I felt it was not fitting for the mood of my installation.
REFLECTION
The initial idea for this installation underwent a lot of modifications and alterations, however I think the final choice of using bindis were a powerful symbol of the theme.
By surrounding the reflection with headlines of violence and abuse towards females, this piece was hard-hitting. In its complete form, I think this concept was effectively developed and created with the material and resources available to me.
This installation acts as a big exploration of both personal and social identity. The mirror and the photographs showing the clockwise progression of the bindis formed one series as part of a larger final exhibition I curated.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
My exhibition was centered around the idea of growth, duality and perspective, and was a reflection and response to experiences that have shaped me as an individual and as a member of society. Changes that are often subconsciously registered but not acknowledged, were the focus of this exhibition and I wanted the viewer to relate to their own journey as they observed mine. This installation concluded my exhibition, leaving the viewer with a heightened level of self-awareness.
I responded to personal and global struggles that are often viewed in isolation. By making a connection between the inside and outside world I wanted the viewer to see that there is an identifiable relationship between the two. Through this exhibition, I alternated between ideas of disruption and balance, to highlight that they both coexist and bring meaning into our lives.
