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கட்டு/Kaṭṭu

Pre-loved sarees

167cm x 220cm x 220cm

Lasalle Show 2023

Fabric sculpture made of a collection of pre-loved sarees that embodies the essence of my body being draped, with the fabric extending, being torn apart and spiraling around the main part of the sculpture.

 

The work touches on topics such as restriction, rebellion and freedom of choice. I hope to use the deconstruction of saris to symbolise the freedom that comes with straying away from tradition and culture, the oppression that comes with the cloth Indian women wear today.

I wanted to bring light upon the policing of women’s attire and how people (men) feel the need to constantly concern themselves over something as trivial as what a woman covers herself with.

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This work is also inspired by the story of the disrobing of Draupadi as told in the Mahabharata. The story where her husbands- the Pandavas lost everything they had , including her while gambling with their cousins- the Kauravas. Eldest of the Kauravas, gets his brother, Dukshasana, to forcefully drag Draupadi into the gambling hall by her hair in front of hundreds of other men present, all while she was bleeding from her period. He then proceeds to taunt her by demanding her to sit upon his lap to which she refuses and he begins verbally insulting her. His friend, Karna demanded the slaves, her and her husbands, be stripped of all of their possessions which includes their clothing. Thus began the horrifying sight of Dukshasana pulling on Draupadi's blood stained garment. Unable to rely on anyone in the hall, she resorted to praying to Lord Krishna, and miraculously every time he pulled the new clothing would be in its place. Eventually, he would give up, exhausted from pulling and unable to disrobe Draupadi. This story was one that impacted me growing up, my view of men and misogyny started to shift as I gained experiences and did my research. I also thought of the irony in which men are usually the perpetrator of violence but they would also have a savior complex where there is a need to protect the women that they hurt.  

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