Tag Archives: Art faggotry

Yacht Club

Spent last weekend with these two beautiful, hilarious boys at the Yacht Club, a strong contender for one of my favourite buildings in Bombay, the others being Buckley Court, Birla House and Sarkar Heritage. The winding wooden staircase, the inner workings of the elevator, the great tiles, the claw foot bathtubs, the high ceilings, the cane furniture in the ball room, the cloakrooms. We explored every nook, took a hundred pictures, went undercover, smuggled beer and wine, smoked, practised a new language, whirled around, we visited art galleries, took a taxi across town to drink Long Island iced teas in shutting clubs, invented new words, laughed ourselves stupid, Photo Booth-ed, sang songs, drank masala chai and ate the best goddamn club sandwiches ever. I already miss you copious amounts Aamir and Akshat.

Final Cut

I’ve often gone past the woodcarving workshops on that long Mahim strip, taking mental note that I should one day visit, be inquisitive and take photographs of their fussy, intricate furniture and accessories. In Final Cut, German curator Tobias Megerle marries the artisans’ traditional handiwork with a western element and lifestyle to create the functional but fancy Mumbai skateboard. The exhibition showcases not only the ornate finished products but photos of the twelve participating artists posing with their pieces. Faceless no more, the show at The Loft in Lower Parel (same complex as the Blue Frog) is currently on as part of the series Solicited Perspectives till April 12th.

Sari Madam

I love saris. I wish I could wear them everyday like my grandmother did. I went to exactly one show at (Lakme India) Fashion Week, the Shantanu and Nikhil show where I saw and lusted over this one. How perfect it is, and how chic and nicely draped.

In other updates, I discovered the album Sinema from this Delhi band Peter Cat Recording Co. And Motherland, one of the first indie magazines in India by ad house Wieden+Kennedy has great cover art and insight into Indian subcultures.

If you can’t tell, my Indophilia is currently off the charts.

Zahir

Talented Rhett Dashwood at Melbourne’s Wade Studios which produces some fantastic creative work made a weird little mirror music video for kicks. I’m in it at some point. Whee. So much fun.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2011

The nine day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Bombay just ended and it was a treat. Jampacked with art and activities, the historic arts precinct Kala Ghoda really puts on a show. Rampart Row is pedestrian only, decorated with flags and festoons, providing stage and street for live performances, hair installations, live painting to fire dancing and drum circles, photography exhibitions, as well as NGO, food, handicraft and independent designer stalls. Everywhere in the surrounds is a gallery space; the classrooms host workshops; the halls hold screenings; the gardens, book readings, panels and poetry slams.

I think however, to fully enjoy the festival, you have to become a part of it. I was dressed as an eggplant one day, a strawberry another, I took photos most nights for the Art Loft who organised the doll parades and a bevy of other performances daily. I painted faces. I attended a fantastic weekend workshop on freelance journalism, and a panel once on food and literature. I only wish I hadn’t missed the heritage walks! I am completely smitten with the Fort-Colaba-Churchgate triangle. I feel like I’m cheating on Bandra with South Bombay.

Rad, rad festival. This city needs it. Counting down to 2012′s.

Pink

Rather happy with some wispy, pink, abstract old people’s art I made. Although I’ve been taking close ups for food for years now, this is my first proper foray into macro fine art photography.

Pashin for Fashin

Love that two of my favourite labels Missoni and Prada have such fun, spirited campaign videos for their festive new season collections. No vacant stares and insipid poses to be found anywhere.

Thanks Alex and Sophie.

More Art on Walls

Pondicherry

This is such an interesting piece, and the detail gets lost in the smaller image so click to enlarge. Love the style and love that the artists painted the tree for continuity.

Melbourne

Truer things have never been said while eating soup on Degraves St.

Siem Reap

Photos being pasted on city walls as part of BlowUp Angkor, this past November.

Mumbai

One of my favourite pieces down the road that’s just been painted over. Ah well, such is the ephemeral nature of street art.

Interestingly enough, the burgeoning graffiti movement in Bombay began in my  apartment building when the Wall Project founder Dhanya Pilo was a tenant. It has grown to include many public and private walls all over the city and it’s very inspiring to see and be a part of. Think I’ll post more pictures from my neighbourhood soon.

Space Invaders

Spotted some of the work of French street artist Invader on my trip. I wonder at his work, (mostly) mosaic tiles arranged like the pixelated Space Invaders of the classic video game and pasted up in various locations all over the world. Read more about him by him here. His new work RubikCubism is also rather genius.

London

Paris

The last one is disguised as a leaf on the tree, hopefully you can spot it. Also, I just saw the marvelous Banksy film Exit from the Giftshop, where the protagonist (I think?) is the cousin of Space Invader. Great film, go watch.

The Ring

Neville, Sheena, and a ringlight. Unedited. This was way too much fun for a Tuesday night. I’m a bad and reluctant model though so if you’re interesting looking, in Bombay and want your picture taken, hit us the fuck up. We do this sort of nonsense all the time.