This work features a captivating pair of eyes hidden behind a scarf– beautiful, yet fearful of becoming objectified, shamed, or being thrown harmful energy by the evil eye of the public. This is often the cultural situation in India, and women, especially in more rural and conservative areas, are encouraged to hide behind a veil of modesty in order to repel the envious gaze. This is something that conflicts me often, because in a perfect world, women would embrace and express their beauty without the fear of negativity from others, but at the same time, I believe modesty and/or the fear of nazar can also be embraced if it is used as a lens through which people perceive the true essence of an individual (for their best inner, non-physical qualities).
This segways into the emphasis of inner virtues in Hinduism. For example, in the Bhagavad Gita, the scripture describes divine qualities such as fearlessness, purity of heart, self-restraint, and compassion, emphasizing the significance of inner virtues over external attributes. This work conveys both sides of this (personal) moral conflict, as well as the idealistic attitude of having the importance placed on inner qualities above all else, reminding every woman of her inherent divinity and boundless potential.
Process from left to right: moodboard, fragmentation, digital collaging, poster iterations (final).
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