In October 2016 I had the opportunity to work with artist Shilo Shiv Suleman, who was then painting a mural for St+art India at K.R. Market in Bangalore. Shilo founded the Fearless Collective to use public art to explore notions of gender, and in case of the Flower Market mural, notions of gentleness, masculinity, and femininity.
Photo Courtesy: Shilo Shiv Suleman
As a woman in India, I am used to navigating public space cautiously, perpetually hyper-aware of my behaviour and that of the people in those surroundings, particularly the men. Working with and being around Shilo, who walks with confidence and ease even in unfamiliar environments, who is fascinated by something new everything two steps, was an exhilarating and eye-opening experience in how else I could exist in places where I would ordinarily feel unsafe.
Photo courtesy: Siddhanth Shetty
Shilo’s inclusive and contextual approach to art, from how her interactions with the local community inform her ultimate mural, to how everyone around is welcome to paint the mural along with her, taught me a great deal about the politics of entering a space as an outsider and how to interact with people there in a manner that respects and considers them, particularly when creating work with their context and their community as the subject.
Photo courtesy: Siddhanth Shetty
Based on my experience working on the mural and interacting with the flower sellers in the market, I created a book - Flowers: From Personal to Public. Taking this particular mural as a context, it attempts to look at the importance of flowers in our society, from their use in rituals and festivities to the notions they represent when seen through the lens of gender.
View the entire book below.
