this is weeny » Photography

City Pockets

Sheena — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:08:20 +0000

Sunless days, making me wonder what I actually like about Bombay. Maybe these pockets of delight. Mostly Colaba, but some Bandra and elsewhere.

Le Mill is an expansive, expensive concept store in the middle of nowhere. But it’s beautiful and thoughtfully accessorised (I love the crows, the pencils, the candles and the lighting), has very sleek branding and is worth one visit.

Pretty embroidered linen and doilies shop on Colaba Causeway.

Gaiety Galaxy. At Rs.75 a ticket, it’s the best multiplex for a movie marathon.

Bungalow 8 is in one of the most gorgeous buildings in the city and is a beautifully curated interiors and fashion store. I love the menswear and vintage on the third floor and the deliberate holes in the wall on the furnishings floor.

Also 15 of my pictures of Chor Bazaar were published in Wallpaper* in one of the Reborn in India issue’s guest editor blogs.

Omkareshwar

Sheena — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:08:28 +0000

Is a magical place. We could have spent a week in the quaint spiritual town but unfortunately, we had one night. I think I may have been the happiest I have ever been in Omkareshwar. We walked through the market, peddlers selling religious paintings and kitschy idols, malas and garlands, jewellery and toys; and found a place to stay for a few hundred rupees on the advice of a holy man. We crossed the footbridge and headed towards the giant Om climbing a million stairs up to the top of the island, dotted with shrines and temples. I felt a deep, consuming sadness in the Shiva temple, the effigy over it so tremendous that you can see it from the other hill. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t prayed in months but I broke down on the temple floor and it felt greatly cathartic. We drank chai at the tea stall nearby and a baba reminded us that the only temple that really mattered was ‘apna shareer’, the temple that is one’s own body. We dipped our feet in the sacred Narmada river, though many swim. We smoked chillums with a baba who told us all about this temple town that he loved. We bought tiny brass bells to make music and rings to wear on our fingers. We ate dinner and breakfast in the lovely garden cafe. We spent the night under the stars and felt good and whole and complete. And we left the next day, our hearts lighter and heavier at the same time.

Dakiya

Sheena — Sat, 28 May 2011 09:42:56 +0000

My friend Shivraj, who is generally just rad and brilliant, has been making things with his hands. His postman wallet is a genius invention and I use the shit out of mine. It’s a wallet for artists and spiffy people, pocket sized and super nifty.

It’s actually comical when myself and all our friends reach for our wallets these days because they’re all versions of the postman. I was kind of obsessed with mine for a while, and took a bunch of photos for him and one day we ordered pizza and scanned a whole bunch of stuff together. He’s got a bunch of versions like the telegram and airmail too with denim or leather and even a vegan version (no leather trim) but for now, find the waxed canvas seamail and inland in his webshop or barter with him!

my desk

Block Booth

Sheena — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:49:12 +0000

Ran the photo booth at the Bandra Block Party on Sunday. So many lovely, quirky characters in the vicinity. Such good sports. Special thank you to my borrowed bedroom curtains for being the best backdrop for the first few hours. I will dry clean you.

Yacht Club

Sheena — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:34:59 +0000

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.

Vandre

Sheena — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:51:43 +0000

I love you, Bandra. I love your Portuguese influence, I love your villages and your Goan grannies who get their skirt suits “stitched” and your tiny stalls set up in verandahs selling homemade pickle and potato chops, I love your promenades and pink sunsets and shwarmas, I love your games nights and communal youtubing and burrito bars and theme parties.

I love your farmers markets, and your supper clubs and Sunday brunches and rooftop dancing. (I don’t like your rickshaw strikes and when they say they won’t go some place) I love that Janata and Jimme’s Kitchen deliver. I love your lively backdrops to impromptu photo shoots. I love your bookshops in garages and artist studios and production offices and chocolate shops and Manju dosa and Bombay sandwiches guy on Hill Road and Saroj sev puri.

I love your things to do on Mondays and Thursdays and other days. (I don’t like when your venues shut before I’m ready to stop moving) I love your street stalls and junk jewels and best fifty rupee finds. I love photos from your skywalks and the shops who sold me furniture underneath. I love your host of interesting characters, your beautiful women and sometimes men and my wonderful, wonderful friends.

Bandra, I’m in love.

Amrita Bagchi

Sheena — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:50:35 +0000

My girl Amrita’s work is now on the cover of Time Out magazine. A detailed and fantastically bizarre illustration adorns the Mumbai edition this month, and the Delhi edition last.

And she’s not just an illustrator. Artist, graphic designer, experimental filmmaker, photographer. The girl paints murals, she sings, she cooks, she exhibits. Her current exhibition runs till 18th March at Studio 21, in Calcutta.

Her blogs showcase a thoughtful and vivid collection of commercial and personal work. Graphic design and illustration can be found here, and her photography here. The Mahishadal Palace slideshows are especially wonderful.

Hire her please, so she won’t have to go to an office and can play with me all day instead.

*Studio 21, 17L Dover Terrace, Kolkata

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2011

Sheena — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:31:33 +0000

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

Sheena — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:40:13 +0000

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.

Bowls of Shtoof

Sheena — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:33:52 +0000

For the last few weeks, I’ve been hanging out at my food blog Bowls of Shtoof writing about well, food, as Soph probably best describes it – through experiences not ingredients. Right now, it’s an archive of travel posts and unusual or interesting foods and finds and a smattering of recipes. It’s an exercise in writing often and about something I really love, so let me know what you think.