Sharing their deepest stories of violence, oftentimes domestic, the act of collective sewing of multiple narratives creates a larger-than-life skirt, Nanna Langa. Capturing the poignancy of the lives of structurally marginalized women who gather at Namma Katte, a safe space that allows for a resting female body in India’s hostile public spaces, this provocative work invites you within its space, to encounter the sheer resilience of women, and the transformative potential of shared experiences.
Jury Statement
Nanna Langa captures the essence of 547 unique journeys, sewn together in a 23-feet-long tapestry of strength, vulnerability, and collective empowerment. Each stitch of the skirt represents a narrative thread contributed by the resilient women of Namma Katte – an inclusive space that fosters solidarity, celebrates diversity, and resonates with personal narratives.
These stories are embroidered onto the fabric, creating a vivid mosaic of human experiences. Aiming to lend voice and visibility to these narratives, often untold or unheard, the project highlights the power of storytelling as a means of connection and healing. As visitors engage with the skirt, they encounter a kaleidoscope of emotions and insights, revealing the rich tapestry that is womanhood and community.
Photo: Philippe Kalia
Photo: Indu Antony
Credits
Indu Antony in collaboration with the women of Namma Katte. This project is supported by Wellcome Trust, London and Museum of Art and Photography, Bengaluru.
The presentation of the work is funded by State of the ART(ist), a collaboration between the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ars Electronica.
Indu Antony
Indu Antony is a multidisciplinary artist based out of Bengaluru and Kerala in India. Having pursued a degree in medicine, Antony later moved on to learning and practicing art full-time. Her works consist of understanding feministic standpoints. Recognizing the presence of gendered bodies in public spaces, she encourages conversations around this topic with her long-standing project – Cecilia’ed. She created the first-ever drag king photo series, ManiFest.
