Home is where the bra comes off. If you live with family, that home becomes your room, a place where you finally shed your personas after interacting with the world. Returning to your room is a ritual of homecoming that is not as much about the space as it is about identity. It's the home base where we peel away the layers of the self we present to the world - the professional; the friend; the lover - and step into something more authentic. In the quietude of our rooms, we return to ourselves. 

This intimate exploration of the self and space is the heart of Raqeeb's ongoing photoseries, ‘In My Room’. Through his lens, he invites us into the personal sanctuaries of individuals, capturing the essence of their being in the quiet moments where the world fades away. It's a series that challenges conventional portrayals of identity, masculinity, and sexuality, offering a glimpse into the complexities of the human experience.

Raqeeb, a Delhi-based writer, researcher, and photographer, has made it his mission to subvert mainstream representations. Hailing from Kolkata, he has carved a niche for himself in exploring themes of masculinity, sexuality, and gender. His work uses the power of intimacy to provoke thought, challenge norms, and foster empathy.

The general discourse around gender and sexuality is charged with homophobia and hate in India. So much so that queer individuals can't even express themselves through gender-affirming styles without attracting glances in public. For someone whose identity differs from the norm, a room of their own becomes the only haven where they can truly be themselves. In this photoseries, Raqeeb depicts that vulnerability and an unhindered expression of the self; a nakedness of not the body but of identity. It is an invitation to look inward and question our own relationship with the spaces and identity that we covet. It's a reminder that beneath our carefully constructed facades, we are all searching for a place to truly belong; a space where we can be seen and accepted for who we are.

You can follow Raqeeb here.

If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:

Bhumika Bhattacharya Artfully Subverts The Male Gaze In Her Photo Series 'Emasculate’

A Homegrown Photo Series Captures The Beauty Of Abandoned Spaces

An Illustration Series Redefining Masculinity Through Tender & Subversive Male Forms