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Annu P. Matthew
Kala Patti, 2000
Digital Print36" x 80"
The portfolio, Bollywood Satirized, is a critical commentary (parody and satire) on the societal expectations that I experienced as a woman growing up in India. To create this work, I start with Indian movie posters, a reflection of the popular culture and the melodrama of Indian life. The visual and aural presence of cinema in India is the result of the largest commercial film industry in the world that produces close to one thousand movies a year. Most of the film industry is concentrated in Bombay, which is also called "Bollywood".
Using digital technology to alter the posters, I re-interpret the images of Indian movie posters to make satirical social commentary based on my experiences. As Michelle Daniel of SAVAC wrote in 1999, "The posters are blatantly satirical; they humorously challenge traditional gender roles and behavior in Indian society." The final images include found images, text and self-portraits. The work explores issues such as the position of women in Indian society, the dowry system, arranged marriages, discrimination based on skin color and inter-racial relationships.
This project was done with the support of The Visual Studies Workshops, Rochester, NY and the New York State Council of the Arts New Technology Grant and a fellowship/residency from the Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
| Annu Palakunnathu Matthew is a fine-art photographer and an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Rhode Island. Her varied cultural and educational experiences in Britain, India and now America influence her photography. Her metaphorical "personal" imagery has been nationally and internationally exhibited in Canada, India, Bangladesh, England and France. In the past 2 years, she has received the Pam Joseph artist-of-color fellowship for a residency at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and has attended artist residencies at Light Workand at the Visual Studies Workshops. Her work has been published in Nueva Luz, The Photo Review, Exposure, Lenswork, Photo District News, Photographers International, Frontiers and Photo Metro. |
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