giclee prints of original paintings, based on the thesis

Seeking Pleasure in Mumbai: Night

The “Night” is inherently an unrespectable place to traverse. It exists in many Indian minds as a time to be avoided, for fear of maring one’s respectability. We fear what the “night” may do to our women of the city. What would the “night” be like if we reclaimed the streets, seeking pleasure, fun, and freedom without any fear?

In Mumbai, the threshold of safety and respectability is constantly shifting based on binaries such as class, caste, and gender. These conditions govern how women shape movements, decisions, and behaviors. What if we have the freedom to dress how we desire, move freely, and pursue pleasure without fear of we might be perceived and subsequently, our safety? 

Thesis Excerpt:
“When speaking to women in and from Mumbai, many revealed a desire to have freedom in their bodies and choice of clothing. They narrated their dreams of meeting friends for a late night hangout with a tank top on and no jacket to cover up; then calling a rickshaw and not having any fear of being judged or assaulted for the amount of skin they show. They dream of being surrounded by big trees, the ocean coast, and community. They imagine talking, laughing, and singing loudly; running without a care, skateboarding down streets, napping soundly, and enjoying the night sky with their friends. They envision being able to “wrap their arms” around the city; that through community and solidarity, Mumbai will make and sustain space for their bodies and their joy”

Outside Girl

Not every girl has the privilege of seeking comfort through the glass doors of high end stores. The facade allures all, surveills most, and allows only a few. 

Sunset City

Despite much of the gated and exclusionary aspects of the city, Mumbaikars make the most of their tight spaces, and bring light to the streets through community. 

She’s at the Mall

Malls are often seen as safe spaces for wealthy women. However, their policed zones and systems often isolate poor women, and other people deemed “undesirable”. These surveillance tools, such as curtained sections for women entering malls, oversexualize one, by “protecting” her from the eyes of men. The mall becomes a gendered and exclusionary zone.