Mumbai, City Secrets: Blowing Up Bombay
Mumbai is suddenly waking up to the idea of street art. In the past couple of years, the city has served as a canvas for laser graffiti and antiterrorist expressionism, wall murals and outdoor music concerts. The most recent of these is BlowUp Bombay, a photo exhibit that took place on Saturday, May 22, at a boho heritage village in Bandra, where peeling walls and century-old homes were papered with over 3,000 prints taken by photographers both professional and untrained.The exhibit started at the opening of a tiny lane with clich?d shots of local trains and street-kid portraits. Further down, an artist painted under a Banyan tree and a photographer refused to disclose the locations of secret Indian beaches he?d shot. But, there were aspects of the show that we loved even more than the actual photos: the fact that we could take any print we liked for free. Our acquisition: a tri-series of bicycles in sepia tones.
Mumbai is suddenly waking up to the idea of street art. In the past couple of years, the city has served as a canvas for laser graffiti and antiterrorist expressionism, wall murals and outdoor music concerts. The most recent of these is BlowUp Bombay, a photo exhibit that took place on Saturday, May 22, at a boho heritage village in Bandra, where peeling walls and century-old homes were papered with over 3,000 prints taken by photographers both professional and untrained.
The exhibit started at the opening of a tiny lane with clich?d shots of local trains and street-kid portraits. Further down, an artist painted under a Banyan tree and a photographer refused to disclose the locations of secret Indian beaches he?d shot. But, there were aspects of the show that we loved even more than the actual photos: the fact that we could take any print we liked for free. Our acquisition: a tri-series of bicycles in sepia tones.
BlowUp Bombay was organized by Blind Boys, an online Asian photography magazine. The event was attended by a diverse crowd of expats and locals, art buffs and casual passersby who mingled with residents of the ancient colony, whose lives ? despite the art invasion ?went on as usual: an old lady walked her dog, jazz drummed out from a cottage, kids played cricket, and a group of men caught a game of cards in what used to be a telephone booth.
In an adjoining open field, we caught an interesting series on the evolution of Independence Rock, Mumbai?s oldest music festival; Alone Together, a stunning collection shot by well-known supermodel Sheetal Mallar, who uses light and shadows to document Mumbai?s lonely souls; and Suburbia, a professional photographer?s picture stories of life in the big city. Her poignant shot of black stilettos lying on pink garbage can was one of the best prints in the exhibit.
On our way out, we ran into Akshay Mahajan from Blind Boys, who explained that they had organized similar events in Delhi and Paris, and hoped that BlowUp Bombay would soon turn into a monthly affair. Maybe next time around, we?ll join the clique of city photographers and show our love, too.
Mumbai, Globe-Trotters: Mashoom Singha, model / television host
06.16.2010You?ll see a lot of Mashoom Singha in Mumbai. The model and television host?s sculpted face and never-ending legs make regular appearances in Vogue, Elle and L?Officiel. She?s been featured in Kingfisher?s coveted swimsuit calendar; ad campaigns for Motorola and JW Marriott; and has walked the ramp for top Indian designers like Ritu Kumar, Rohit Bal and Wendell Rodricks.
But meet her in person and you?ll discover a lot more. For one thing, she?s a qualified engineer who, upon her supermodel sister Shamita?s prodding, circulated shots of herself while she crammed for final exams. Ace Indian photographer Atul Kasbekar spotted them and instantly signed her to his modeling agency. And just like that, her life changed. When Mashoom isn?t busy at work, she also runs a Mumbai wine tasting club called We Know Vino. Mashoom lets L-atitude into her closet, her travel plans and her favorite Mumbai haunts.
Mumbai, City Secrets: Bless Your Cart
04.07.2010Mice, lotuses, clouds. The many gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology ride on the oddest things, and their current vessel of choice seems to be merchandise by Play Clan, a line of clothes, accessories and bric-a-brac that we?ve been seriously crushing on.
Produced by a small, crafty (and seemingly insane) collective of designers, Play Clan puts an irreverent, laugh-out-loud spin on everyday objects. During a recent visit to their only outlet in Delhi, we bagged a satirical Zippo lighter bearing popular dialogues from an Indian spaghetti western, arty grey and yellow notebooks that pay homage to goddess Lakshmi, and seriously pretty white cushion covers embellished with intricate sketches of Lord Shiva. We love them too much to use them, but scattered around our desk, they brighten up the dreariest of workdays.
Mumbai, City Secrets: Masala Tees: Earl Grey, Black and Not (T)Oolong
06.28.2010Served in dainty Sevres cups and chipped grimy glasses, featured on leather bound menus and at street stalls, hot, milky tea spiced with cardamom, black pepper and sometimes even saffron, is one of the most ubiquitous motifs of Mumbai?s urban landscape.
We recently stumbled across a unique avatar of this city classic at Bombay Electric, one of the city?s hippest, most upscale fashion stores: Masala Tees, cotton T-shirts that come adorably packed in actual ?tea bags.? Embellished with traditional Indian portraits and strategically placed Swarovski crystals, these are available in colors just right for spring: mustard, grey and, of course, hot pink ? India?s answer to navy.
Served in dainty Sevres cups and chipped grimy glasses, featured on leather bound menus and at street stalls, hot, milky tea spiced with cardamom, black pepper and sometimes even saffron, is one of the most ubiquitous motifs of Mumbai?s urban landscape.
We recently stumbled across a unique avatar of this city classic at Bombay Electric, one of the city?s hippest, most upscale fashion stores: Masala Tees, cotton T-shirts that come adorably packed in actual ?tea bags.? Embellished with traditional Indian portraits and strategically placed Swarovski crystals, these are available in colors just right for spring: mustard, grey and, of course, hot pink ? India?s answer to navy.
Masala Tees are designed by Sheikha Mattar-Jacob and Noelline Besson, expats from Singapore and France respectively. They succeed at a formula that many attempt, but few in India get right: combining distinctly traditional elements into a garment that is truly contemporary. These form-fitting T-shirts are a great way to add a little bit of India to your wardrobe without the draping hassles and excessive yards of cloth that so often accompany garments from the Subcontinent.
Better yet, Masala Tees are made from organic fabric (another big trend currently gripping Mumbai), and proceeds from sales often go toward one of several causes the designers support, like women?s issues and sustainable businesses.
Click here to view the collection.
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