Throwback Thursday #1 | We Exist: Trans-ing the City | In Conversation with the Aravani Art Project | May 28, 2020 | 06:00 PM

As the lockdown and call for physical distancing continues, and we discover new ways of engaging with technology and online platforms, IFA is opening its doors to share the work of our grantees by introducing a virtual series of conversations, film screenings, and performances titled Throwback Thursdays with IFA, where everyone is welcome.

This Thursday, we present the first of this series, titled We Exist: Trans-ing the City, where Poornima Sukumar along with Shanthi and Chandri from the Aravani Art Project will be in conversation with Sumana Chandrashekar, Programme Lead, IFA.

Poornima Sukumar received a grant from IFA, under the Project 560 programme for a Year-long Curated Series of Artistic Engagements in Bangalore.

As part of the project, the collective comprising of members from the transgender community hosted seven unique events across Bangalore, filling up spaces with stories from their lives, choices, friendships and connection to the city. These are tales of journeys that are ignored and silenced in our cityscapes.

They painted the old Balaji bar in Majestic, a safe place for the transgender community for hanging out and finding work; organised a scavenger hunt at the Cubbon Park to discover spaces and stories unknown to the rest of the society; a walk carrying the goddess Yellama in the streets turning the city into a space where everyone comes together in the name of faith, love and celebration; and hosted a performance at the Ulsoor cemetery exploring connections between dance, expression, faith, intense energies and the community.

Join us to learn more about the project and stories of Bangalore that often remain invisible, from members of the transgender community whose lived experiences have actively influenced and shaped the history and culture of the city.

Click here and register to attend the showcase on zoom.

It will also be streamed live across our social media platforms - youtube and facebook. No prior registration required to join the live streaming. 

The Project 560 programme at IFA is committed to a long-term, continuous engagement with the city through multipronged strategies including grantmaking and collaborations. We are now inviting proposals under this programme. Click here for the Open Call.