Four photographers, namely Sanjiv Valsan, Aparna Jayakumar, Poulomi Basu and Meghanad Ganpule capture the essence of varied situations in their natural settings.
Here’s an interesting photographic exhibition that looks at gender bastions and the transgressions of them. Four photographers, namely Sanjiv Valsan, Aparna Jayakumar, Poulomi Basu and Meghanad Ganpule capture the essence of varied situations in their natural settings.
Inside/Out explores the mosaic of intimate and public spaces. For instance, Meghanad explores the confines of men’s compartment in trains, Sanjiv checks out the eunuch prostitutes of Kamathipura, Aparna’s images speak of the bold women who dare to transgress into supposedly men’s professions and Poulomi’s photographs capture women in the presence of other women.
A striking photograph of a eunuch in the infamous red-light Kamathipura district exudes a ghostly feeling. “I had taken these photographs a few years ago when I was on an assignment and was invited to some of their homes. So you can see that their body language is very comfortable. I really wish the person in the photograph sees the picture and connects with me,” says Sanjiv wistfully.
The eunuchs seem happy to face the camera, maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that since they have already transgressed the gender rules they don’t have a reason to be coy anymore.
“The images of eunuchs negotiating with mill workers bring out the complication of gender within a prism. Another section of Sanjiv’s work deals with the glamourised posters of B-grade Bollywood flicks like Meri Takat, Khoon, Pasena etc, which are macho words that men like to associate themselves with — thereby bringing to the fore the masculinity of
the situation,” says Georgina Maddox, curator of the exhibition.
Aparna having travelled a great deal gets in a global perspective. One image captures a woman butcher amidst her work surroundings. It shows off a confident woman being herself in a mostly ‘male-identified’ occupation. “This photo aptly depicts urban drama being played out, while it dislodges the usual gender equation,” adds Georgina.
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