>Scorpions13256 at 17:39, 24 June 2021

2021-06-24T17:39:18Z

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{{Short description|Collective of South Asian women artists}}

'''Kadak Collective''' is a collaborative group of female artists from [[South Asia]], who work on [[Graphic arts|graphic art]] projects, including [[Zine|zines]], publications, and other forms of story-telling. Its members include filmmaker and webcomic creator [[Aarthi Parthasarathy|Aarthi Parthasarthy]], comic artist and illustrator [[Kaveri Gopalakrishnan]].

== Establishment ==
Kadak Collective was established at the initiative of animator and comics journalist [[Aindri Chakraborty]], in response to a lack of representation of women, and South Asian women, at arts festivals and comic book conventions. The initial group consisted of eight artists from South Asia, apart from Chakraborty: filmmaker and webcomic creator, [[Aarthi Parthasarathy|Aarthi Parthasarthy]], artist [[Garima Gupta]], comic artist and illustrator [[Kaveri Gopalakrishnan]], typographer [[Pavithra Dikshit]], graphic designer [[Mira Malhotra]], illustrator and designer [[Janine Shroff]], and designer and director [[Akhila Krishnan]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Kulkarni|first=Damini|title=A women's art collective is serving a dose of truth–strong and Kadak|url=http://scroll.in/magazine/822731/a-womens-art-collective-is-serving-a-dose-of-truth-strong-and-kadak|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref> Later members include comic book writer [[Kruttika Susarla|Kruttika Sussarla]], and artists such as Rae Zachariah, Nausheed Javed, and Priya Dali.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Creators of Kadak|url=http://creators.kadakcollective.com/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Creators of Kadak}}</ref> The name 'kadak' means 'strong' or 'sharp' and is often used to describe South Asian [[masala chai]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Pasricha|first=Japleen|date=2016-03-07|title=Kadak Collective: Questioning The Status Quo One Art(Tea) At A Time|url=https://feminisminindia.com/2016/03/08/kadak-collective/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Feminism In India|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Projects ==
Kadak Collective's first project was a colletion of comic zines, prints and postcards presented at the East London Comic Arts Festival Their work was commercially successful, with most presented art work selling out at the festival itself.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kadak|url=https://www.platform-mag.com/design/kadak.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.platform-mag.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2017-08-09|title=Why The Women From Kadak Collective Are Not Your Regular Cup Of Tea {{!}} Verve Magazine|url=https://www.vervemagazine.in/arts-and-culture/why-the-women-from-kadak-collective-are-not-your-regular-cup-of-tea|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.vervemagazine.in|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ratnam|first=Dhamini|date=2016-09-30|title=What women do|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/QyplZtn5M67nVYGF5oCttO/What-women-do.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=mint|language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, Kadak Collective launched a project titled 'Reading Room', a travelling library and exhibit consisting of 21 titles created by members of the collective. Initially housed at the [[Goethe-Institut]]'s [[Max Müller Bhavan|Max Mueller Bhavan]] in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], it was later presented in several locations in India as both, a physical and virtual space, with the content being hosted online as well. Many of the works including in 'Reading Room' dealt with social expectations surrounding female sexuality, as well as engaging with feminism, gender, identity, and caste in South Asia. It received positive reviews in the Indian press.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cornelious|first=Deborah|date=2016-12-02|title=A kadak point for history|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/A-kadak-point-for-history/article16751274.ece|access-date=2021-03-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-08-17|title=Strong, Sharp, Kadak|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/kadak-collective-strong-women-india-art-2979336/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The Reading Room was presented in addition to a second project titled 'Gender Bender', which focused on gender and identity.<ref name=":2" /> A zine created by Mira Malhotra for this project, titled 'Unfolding the Sari' received particular acclaim, with Livemint describing as a 'distinctive' examination of the [[Madonna–whore complex|Madonna-whore complex]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kappal|first=Bhanuj|date=2019-03-02|title=The need to be zine|url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/the-need-to-be-zine-1551518693699.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=mint|language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, the collective launched ''Bystander'', an anthology of visual art made by members of the collective, examining ideas of community and '[[othering]]', examining the access that women have to public and private spaces as well as aspects of the [[Me Too movement (India)|Me Too movement]] in India. The anthology was crowd-funded and included collaborations with poets, writers, and activists. The project has received wide coverage and press, with particular note being paid to their use of digital art, including gifs, audio and animation.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-12|title=A new anthology offers perspective on the identities of a ‘bystander’|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/stand-act-repeat-5775957/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Crowdfunded Campaign Is Using Art to Flesh Out What a Bystander Is|url=https://thewire.in/books/bystander-effect-kadal-collective|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 February 2020|title=The Cultural Frontline: The Kadak Collective|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csynbr|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-23|website=BBC World Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=This Anthology Explores the Role of the 'Other' in Feminist Conversation - SheThePeople TV|url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/bystander-anthology-kadak-collective/|access-date=2021-03-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kale|first=Arun|date=2019-05-29|title=Standing By|url=https://helterskelter.in/2019/05/standing-by-bystander-anthology-kadak-collective/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Helter Skelter Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Behrawala|first=Krutika|date=2020-11-06|title=India’s digital artists: their time is now|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/indian-digital-artists-their-time-is-now/article33040938.ece|access-date=2021-03-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The Kadak Collective has also expressed support for political causes, including creating [[protest art]] during the Indian [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|Citizenship Amendment Act]] protests,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jan 20|first=Saranya Chakrapani / TNN /|last2=2020|last3=Ist|first3=20:36|title=Creators contribute posters, paintings to be used at CAA protests {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/creators-contribute-posters-paintings-to-be-used-at-caa-protests/articleshow/73442355.cms|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Majumdar|first=Meghna|date=2019-12-23|title=How art on social media became the face of anti-CAA protests|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/how-art-on-social-media-became-the-face-of-anti-caa-protests/article30379272.ece|access-date=2021-03-23|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-28|title=Amid anti-CAA, NRC protests, artists in India are creating — and sharing — a portrait of dissent - India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/amid-anti-caa-nrc-protests-artists-in-india-are-creating-and-sharing-a-portrait-of-dissent-7832351.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-23|title=Indian creatives united by "collective rage and shock" over citizenship laws|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2020/01/23/india-citizenship-amendment-act-caa-politics-posters/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Dezeen|language=en}}</ref> and signing a letter condemning the Delhi High Court's direction to removal all online allegations of sexual harassment against Indian artist [[Subodh Gupta]] during the [[Me Too movement (India)|Me Too movement in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-03|title=#MeToo: After activists' letter, Subodh Gupta's defamation suit condemned by JNU students in a statement - India News , Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/metoo-after-activists-letter-subodh-guptas-defamation-suit-condemned-by-jnu-students-in-a-statement-7444341.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Firstpost}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}
[[Category:21st-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian designers]]
[[Category:Indian feminists]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]

Kadak Collective - Revision history

>Scorpions13256 at 17:39, 24 June 2021