2017 // My summer work
1. Unfair and lovely
This piece was of of a traditional indian bride’s sari which they don’t usually wear as they prefer to cover their arms. It’s almost an act of rebellion to show off your arms at your wedding. I made intricate gold patterns which would have been beading on an actual sari. The focal point was her skin. In India, when looking for a bride a groom always prefers women who are lighter in complexion. There are creams to lighten your skin and promote whitewashing. The most famous one called “Fair and Lovely” which women of all ages are shamed into buying (myself included). It’s a sad truth and most of India believes darker skinned girls aren’t beautiful as they are. You see most actresses, models, and celebrities as lighter skinned women and are often photoshopped to look pretty much caucasian. A couple years ago a group of women started a trend called “Unfair and Lovely” to combat the belief that light skinned indian girls are inherently more beautiful and worthy of a husband more than those with darker skin. This piece goes to show you don’t need to fit a standard set by companies or men or society to be a beautiful bride.
2. My ancestor’s hands
This piece is of an indian bride’s hands covered in mehendi which is a henna paste made from leaves that is applied to this skin in designs of flowers, plants, and mango patterns and left to dry. When it is washed off it leaves a dark reddish stain. The henna itself has cooling properties and relaxes the bride for her wedding day. This has been a tradition in India for years and involves a whole ceremony with the women close to the bride. The title comes from just how old this tradition is. I would imagine this bride getting her hands done in mehendi by her mother. It’s also an act that has been done for generations so all your ancestors are there with you as you do it as it’s passed down. The hand’s pose is from an Indian style of dance called Bharatanatyam which is practiced by many indian women all over the country. Each dance tells a story even down to the hand’s symbols. This specific hand symbol is called Alapadma which means “fully bloomed lotus” but can also mean a full moon, beauty, seperation from a loved one, a mirror, a village etc. I surrounded the hand with flowers to show the greenery of India and thought framing the hand with the flowers would be the best decision.
3. Homeland
This work is created out of various papers to resemble a sari pattern. A sari is a traditional indian clothing worn by women. I decided to go for a warmer palette to keep the color scheme flow. I painted the map of india and wrote the word India in hindi which is one of the most common languages in India. I think the overall appearance is quite elegant yet homemade and I love the quilt-like appearance. I love the different textures and patterns that form together to make this piece that feels like something straight out of my homeland. I think it’s simple yet stunning and means a lot to me personally.