Photo-walk at Bandra desh

I never really got around to writing about this amazing photo walk that I did last January.
My friend who lived in Bandra often came across lovely graffiti and thought it would be great to go exploring the by lanes for more art.
So one fine sunny Sunday morning, we set out, armed with our ancient  point and shoot camera's and bucket load of excitement to see what treasures we would find.

We started our walk at pali village and I was absolutely blown away by what I saw...such art, so many graffiti..Every house had walls with lovely graffiti .Not just that, the houses themselves were so beautiful, brightly coloured with lots of flowers. So many happy people, mostly smiling faces. Some were even happy to pose for us.

I'm not sure about the all the artists, but we could identify some of them. For example, the very famous BAP (Bollywood Art Project) and DAP ( Dharavi Art Project). There were some pretty powerful messages out there, especially about gender equality.

Here are some of the pictures from the walk.

                                                     This one's by BAP - Madhubala

                                     
                                           This one says Bandradesh

Lucky to have found a befitting model for this one.

There was an entire lane dedicated to female infanticide and its consequences. Each painting gave out a very strong social message.

                                               

We bumped into a group of people from the Dharavi Art Room who were raising money for underprivileged kids. These pictures were all taken by these kids. I was overwhelmed over with all the talent here.

                                            A very ugly rendition of the Monalisa

 

                                         
                                                Happy Posers!

Miss Universe and how!

Song of the day: Wicked Little Town - Hedwig And The Angry Inch

'Glam Rock'. I snorted the first time I heard it. WTF is glam rock? Paris Hilton with big hair and shiny clothes rocking it on stage? Strangely, it is just that minus Paris or Parez or a stick with a head, whatever.

Glam rock isn't just a genre, it's really a movement. It took UK by storm during the early 1970s. David Bowie and T-Rex are probably one of the most famous glam rockers, the pioneers more like, followed by Alice Cooper.  Although Glam stemmed from Rock& Roll and Blues rock, it shared a strong Psychedelic background. For the first time in history it erased the arbitrary gender lines. Glam rejected all the falseness and claimed simplicity of rock and shamelessly borrowed from a wide range of genres - from hard rock to progressive metal.

What really underlined the genre were the theatrics associated with it - outrageous clothes, big hair and loads of makeup, lot's of glam and glitter and fishnets and fur.

The flamboyant costumes and visual styles of glam performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been connected with new views of gender roles [Wikipedia]

The song that I'm talking about today is borrowed from a Musical - Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Glam was the only language in which Hedwig's story could be told.

She makes her entrance like a star dying to be born – goose-stepping through the audience with the arrogant aplomb of Marlene Dietrich and Jim Morrison; decked out like a trailer-park tart’s idea of a glam-rock fox, in stone-washed denim, an Aryan-yellow, blow-dried mane and red-glitter lipstick; accompanied by the refried-Queen strains of "America the Beautiful" and marvelously surly introduction by her crusty Serbian valet boy toy Yitzhak: "Ladies and gentlemen, whether you like it or not – Hedwig!"


Wicked Little Town - Hedwig & The Angry Inch

Song of the day : Teardrop - Massive Attack

Song: Teardrop
Artist: Massive Attack Feat. Elizabeth Frazer
Album: Mezzanine
Genre: Trip Hop


Teardrop is a song that I really love.

Massive Attack is an English band consisting of Robert '3D' & Grant Marshall (Daddy G). They often team up with other musicians for songs. This particular song was sung by Elizabeth Frazer (Member of a Scottish Rock Band Cocteau Twins). I think Elizabeth Frazer's voice is absolutely mesmerizing.

This single is from Massive Attacks Mezzanine Album.

"There was once a king sitting on his throne. Around him stood great and wonderfully beautiful columns ornamented with ivory, bearing the banners of the king with great honor. Then it pleased the king to raise a small feather from the ground, and he commanded it to fly. The feather flew, not because of anything in itself but because the air bore it along. Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God."

Several artists have covered the song including Newton Faulkner, Joe Gonzales, Simple Minds and the Kooks...but the original is hands down the best version.

The Kiss

I had not known another body could do this to mine.

I had not known, before us, that every vein in my body was capable of carrying light, like a river seen from a train makes a channel of sky etch itself deep into a landscape. I had not really known I could be so much more than myself; I had not known another body could do this to mine.

—Ali Smith (via beryl-azure)

Peace within and beyond!

Conversations in my head - Part 1

Dear Brownie,

I hate to write this and I'm really very sorry but we can't be friends anymore. I have a new friend now, Miss Slim Pants. She thinks it’s a bad idea for us to continue being friends. I really cannot have both of you and must let one go. I hope you understand, Miss Slim Pants means a lot to me. She's so cool. I've wanted to be friends with her ever since I can remember.

You know brownie, she’s very different from you and me. She's smart, confident and beautiful. Not awkward at all. Do you understand what I'm saying? She's like the red velvet cake of your world; everybody wants a piece of her. But she can be too sweet at times. You on the other hand my dear brownie are just the right amount of sweet. She can be very mean but then again she looks so nice that most of the time people ignore everything else.

 It feels great to be with her, although it does get a bit uncomfortable at times. But you my dear brownie have always made me feel good. You were always there to comfort me and you never made me break up with my other friends. Oh! I don't know what to do! :( What should I do Brownie?

Love,

Damy

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Dear Damy,

You do the right thing girl. Sure my walnuts will fall apart without you but that's no reason for you to look back. You should embrace new things in life. It may hurt for a while and you might miss me, but soon when you're all pretty and thin and you're with Miss Slim Pants, you'll forget all about me. But I will never forget you my dear. I'll always look out for you from behind the counters of Theobroma; and when you walk in with Miss Slim Pants and order yourself only a cup of green tea, I'll understand that you've moved on.

Be happy my friend.

Love,

Brownie

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Dear Brownie,

It's been a month since I saw you last. I'm so lonely without you. There's no sweetness left in my life anymore. Miss Slim Pants says that she can't be friends with me yet and I need to exercise and stop eating altogether if I want to be with her. I think she's very mean.

Can I come and see you sometime?

Love,

Damy

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Dear Damy,

Of course you can come and see me. I'm still here and my love for you is unconditional. You know I'd never ask you to change one thing about you. I love you just the way you are, love handles and all. :)

You'll always be my friend.

Love,

Brownie

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 Dear Brownie.

You're a true friend and I love you too!

I know what I must do now. I'm breaking up with Miss Slim Pants. She's a mean bitch.

I just want to be with you. I have so much to tell you. xoxo

Let's meet up over a cup of coffee?

Love,

Damy

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Dear Damy,

I'll be waiting for you! xoxo

Love,

Brownie