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Impressions on Masculinity

Thomas Christiansen and I spent some time together while I showed him the high resolution portraits from Mas(k)culinities. Upon my request to write down some of his observations… he graced me this essay!

“The most powerful element to the craft of mas(k)culinity, for me, is its ability to render very different experiences depending on the proximity and focus through which people examine the images. Continue reading Impressions on Masculinity

Connections ~ Diane Esguerra’s Junkie Buddha

Diane has an air of serenity about her that is contagious… when I first met her twenty six years ago and through all this while that I have known her, her core essence exudes a flawless sense of calm. Recently I met her at the launch of her first book, a travel memoir called Junkie Buddha. She read through a passage from the book. The room danced and began to melt as tears welled up silently. Continue reading Connections ~ Diane Esguerra’s Junkie Buddha

HyperReal… Mas(k)culinities

What is real and what isn’t?

“Are you a man?” said Lady Macbeth to her husband, Macbeth. Using this as a title I hash tagged my Instagram #masculinity #mask_culinity; a banana skin on pink lace. I was playing tongue and cheek, using an age old cliche of banana/phallus as a provocation of values synonymous with English Renaissance! These terms are still used freely in playgrounds and classrooms and bedrooms. Gender specific roles as demanded by society become iconic masculinity or femininity. And this song and dance, performance on demand changes from culture to religion to class. Continue reading HyperReal… Mas(k)culinities

motiroti… living archives

Like chapters of a book unravelling its story… motiroti went through its incredibly rich life of creating collaborations and associations literally with hundreds of artists and millions across the globe. Its ethos based on a culture of sharing, continues.

As a young nineteen year old and secretly in love with senior NCA student in Lahore, I wanted to know his zodiac sign to understand him better inside and out. And he, he had no idea when he was born because his elders put a made up date on his birth certificate. According to his mother he was born the same summer, two days apart when her favourite white goat had her first-born. There was too much commotion so no one remembered! Continue reading motiroti… living archives