Pushpamala N b. 1956
Relooking at Phantom Lady or Kismet (1998) , 2023
Single channel video ( 5 mins, 29 secs)
Copyright The Artist
https://vimeo.com/883932237?share=copy 'A behind-the-scenes presentation of how Pushpamala created 'The Phantom Lady or Kismet, a Photoromance', 1998 invites the viewers into her lived experience. Archival material ranges from notes about the...
https://vimeo.com/883932237?share=copy
"A behind-the-scenes presentation of how Pushpamala created 'The Phantom Lady or Kismet, a Photoromance', 1998 invites the viewers into her lived experience. Archival material ranges from notes about the shoot across public and private spaces in Bombay, photographs, postcards, invite cards to catalogues about the phenomenon of Fearless Nadia, Pushpa's personal notes about the narrative build up for The Phantom Lady, all give us a glimpse into the process of her performance-making.
Her film, in first person, journeys through how each of the photographic stills had many elements that went into building them. Pushpa's speech bubbles and thought clouds take us through each of those elements. A crucial essay penned by her in 2015 commentates on womanhood and nation. She takes us through how women have been portrayed on screen and in media and its impact on collective ideas of gender.
She herself characterizes a persona that negotiates this give and take of power, as The Phantom Lady. Here the wallpaper showcases her as the same, outside the Gandhy family home, Kekee Manzil. This revisitation from the present day lens uncovers the layers that go into performance and exhibition building - from idea to execution. All the archival items on the shelf are facsimile reproductions, so please feel to touch and go through them. Special edition letterpress postcards from 1998 are available for sale at the reception desk.
"
"A behind-the-scenes presentation of how Pushpamala created 'The Phantom Lady or Kismet, a Photoromance', 1998 invites the viewers into her lived experience. Archival material ranges from notes about the shoot across public and private spaces in Bombay, photographs, postcards, invite cards to catalogues about the phenomenon of Fearless Nadia, Pushpa's personal notes about the narrative build up for The Phantom Lady, all give us a glimpse into the process of her performance-making.
Her film, in first person, journeys through how each of the photographic stills had many elements that went into building them. Pushpa's speech bubbles and thought clouds take us through each of those elements. A crucial essay penned by her in 2015 commentates on womanhood and nation. She takes us through how women have been portrayed on screen and in media and its impact on collective ideas of gender.
She herself characterizes a persona that negotiates this give and take of power, as The Phantom Lady. Here the wallpaper showcases her as the same, outside the Gandhy family home, Kekee Manzil. This revisitation from the present day lens uncovers the layers that go into performance and exhibition building - from idea to execution. All the archival items on the shelf are facsimile reproductions, so please feel to touch and go through them. Special edition letterpress postcards from 1998 are available for sale at the reception desk.
"