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As part of a collaboration between Homegrown’s HG Academy and Pearl Academy, students of the latter were guided to create live industry projects based on the street culture in India. As part of their course, they gave life to various media productions including documentaries and photoseries.
Their photobook, a collection of photoseries exploring the streets and culture in India took on diverse directions. With some turning to the local markets to look for what makes Indian streets stand out, while others explored street food with a fresh lens of veganism, some others looked at urban spaces that have reimagined the way we interact with our city, yet others looked at India’s growing street culture through its subcultures like tattooing or growing streetwear brands. Here is Gen-z’s take on the street culture in India.
The photostory was undertaken by the students of Pearl Academy as part of their Live Industry Project. Explaining the intent behind the project they wrote, “The project was based on the Indian Street culture. Our group did a photo-story book for the final outcome for the Live Industry Project. The photo story book comprises different stories based on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. The whole team put in the efforts to reach the final goals. Our core competencies were planning out the shoots, the execution, curating the article, image editing and the most importantly the layouts of the book. Our team had good communication throughout the process and with everyone’s effort, we curated our final outcome.”
The students played to their strengths and organised themselves in a way that they could hone their sill-sets. “Kamya, being the head of the team, planned photo-shoots, did photography and helped in the image-editing. Raagini, with best of her skills, captured street art and culture. Rashi took over the administration. Akanksha helped in planning out the content and its execution. Akshita, being the part of both coffee table book and photo story group contributed in photo-editing and content curation. Jhanvi did fantastic shoots at skateboard park, Carter Road,Mumbai. Lori and Priyamvada put an amount of effort into bringing out the best of the layouts of the photo-story book” they wrote in the report they submitted along with the project.
Vegan On The Street
Written and shot by Kamya Gupta, the photoseries explores street food of Delhi through the lens of a growing shift towards veganism in India. An interesting and fresh take on the street food culture of Delhi which is known for its diverse offerings, Kamya, through her photoseries, manages to explore not just street culture through food but also explore the accessibility of veganism within the Indian context. In her own words:
“Veganism has evolved as a culture in recent years and has become a core part of many individuals’ lifestyles. In India, however, it is still taking shape. The majority of Indians are unknown to the concept and believe that being a vegan is challenging and absurd.
How many of us know that the Gol Gappa we eat at every corner in Delhi is also vegan?
Delhi, the hub of diverse street food from all around the country, offers limitless on-the-go snacks featuring under a vegan diet. From Rajouri Garden’s Ram Laddoo to the youth’s go-to street snack, momos, all come under vegan food options to pick from.
It’s the perspective that needs to change toward the culture, promoting a sustainable, conscious, and healthy lifestyle and demands less than what is perceived to be more.”
Edgy Street
Back when the Carter Road Skatepark’s murals were first unveiled, we at Homegrown had a larger discussion about the need to reimagine public places. The Carter Road Skatepark, we noted, would help create positive and impactful experiences for the people of Mumbai. It could be an inclusive place where people from different walks of life can come together to engage in skateboarding, interact with friends or simply indulge in the artistry of the space. This collective effort by the Bandra Collective, Bombay SB, the local government (the promenade built with the help of the MLA funds) and the residents was a beacon of hope that more such interactive urban spaces will find a home in the city in the near future. Exploring this sentiment is the photoseries ‘Edgy Street’ shot by Jhanvi Dhorda and written by Akanksha Singh. Here is the description of the photoseries in Singh’s own words:
“The skatepark at Carter Road has become a meeting place in no time, not only for enthusiasts but also a place where people of different backgrounds interact. A thriving community now including small kids, young men and women from both underprivileged communities as well as the well to do, join in a sport that binds them together, breaking down cultural barriers.
In order to make the park even more inclusive, the design of the skatepark can also be turned into an amphitheatre. The steps leading down into the skating bowl will act as seats, whereas the performance can take place on the platform of the quarter pipe showering with its Vibrant colours and paintings. These talented skaters and artists practise and express themselves through skateboarding
A 22-year-old Nikhil Shelatkar, who has been skateboarding for 7 years, comes to the park, puts on his music and forgets about the world. A 7-year-old kid named Ali Sayed started skating when he was just 5 years old, who has mastered BMX bike tricks and is known as the youngest BMX rider in India.
The mural illustrations at the Carter Road Skatepark are an important milestone for the city. This collective effort by the Bandra Collective, Bombay SB, the local government (the promenade is built with the help of the MLA funds) and the residents is a beacon of hope that more such interactive urban spaces will find a home in the city in the near future.”
Suhasini Gour
Written and shot by Kamya Gupta, the photoseries explores the subculture of tattooing in India, how it is evolving and how the Indian Gen-Z is interacting with it. The photoseries gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of Suhasini Gour’s art studio. Gour is a 26-year-old tattoo artist based out of Hauz Khas who learned and jumped right into tattooing after graduating. Here are some excerpts from Gupta’s interview with her:
Is it essential to have an artistic background or be good at Art to become a tattoo artist?
Not necessarily. A lot of people start from scratch, which prolongs training. I consider my background in Art as my greatest strength because I strive based on my authenticity.
When did you start your studio, and what was the inspiration behind the look of it?
My studio is over a year old now. My topmost priority was to make the space look comfortable and not intimidating, hence, there’s a lot of white (hard to maintain with all the ink around ), but aesthetic is very important to me.
What’s your design aesthetic, and how does it play a role in Tattooing?
I like things to be subtle and easy on the eyes. On skin and around me.
Did you have anything particular in mind while making your studio in terms of its design and interior?
What you see at my studio was never planned. I don’t go in with a plan when I’m doing something creative, even before designing most of my tattoos. My aesthetic comes naturally to me. My studio has come together piece by piece – a whole lot of emotion and very little planning.
Has tattoo culture evolved over the past years, and if yes, then how?
I believe tattooing was in its nascent stages when I got my first tattoo almost ten years ago. There is a lot more exposure now. Long way to way if you compare it with international standards, but it’s getting there.
What is the future of tattoos for the gen-z according to you?
Tattoos are a lot more common now than they used to be, maybe 10-15 years ago. It was a struggle convincing my mom back when I wanted my first one; I see that gen z has it easier now from my personal experience. It just gets better.
Almost Gods
The streetwear subculture has only started to gain momentum in India. Exploring this subculture through streetwear brand Almost Gods is this photoseries shot and written by Kamya Gupta. In her own words:
“Launched in March of 2018, Almost Gods was built out of a shared perspective that streetwear should be the driving factor in pushing the boundaries and expectations of the global fashion market. Dhruv Khurana, a young entrepreneur, shares his memory of being inspired by conceptual art and great artists like Damien Hirst and Van Gogh in his freshman year before he came up with his brand. He wanted to find a voice in the world of art. Introduced to streetwear through sneakers, Dhruv shares how kicks were a language of cultural impact on him.
“Every collection is our version of a status update, what’s culturally happening right now,” describes Dhruv when asked about the brand’s inspiration behind every collection. As a streetwear brand, Dhruv doesn’t consider his label as premium. Rather, they say their consumers aren’t just purchasing a product. They’re also buying the idea, time, and energy put for hours behind each piece.
Almost Gods hope to see streetwear blend with the fashion industry smoothly in the coming years and become a core part of every closet.
Hauz Rani
The soul of India lives in its streets – in the people and vibrant colours that make up its local marketplace. There is some sort of electrifying energy in the mundane nature of people coming about, bargaining, and leaving with a sense of accomplishment upon having gotten a hot deal. Exploring the heart and soul of culture and community is the photoseries ‘Hauz Rani’ written by Akshita Mehrotra and shot by Raagini. The photoseries through Mehrotra’s words:
“Delhi’s Hauz Rani is a hidden gem for all things be it ceramic, be it crockery, flower pots or decorative items for the household. Locally known as the ‘Potters’ Market’. It is not a well-organised market, but if you are looking for some beautiful and designer home decor pieces or crockery items then you are in the right place.
From big plates to small plates, soup bowls and spoons, serving bowls – this market offers everything in one row in varying sizes with exquisite designs. This market also provides you with limitless opportunities to bargain at a shop, unlike big shopping malls. You will even find some cheap and affordable ceramic soap dispensers, plates, pots, wind chimes and planters starting from Rs.100
This place is full of hand-painted platters, dinner sets, baking dishes, mugs, coasters and pretty much everything you want for your kitchen. The shop owners of Hauz Rani are themselves potters who make delicate items. So, this roadside lane is full of irresistible items with a burst of colours and affordable items that you would like to buy!”
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