Grant #234
The Aravani Art Project
March 6, 2017
Giving visibility to India’s trans community and transforming attitudes through art.
About a year ago, Bangalore-based artist, Poornima Sukumar, invited transgender women to join her in painting a mural. What started as lacquering a wall in a bustling market one Sunday afternoon in India turned out to be a part of a larger art project.
The Aravani Art Project was launched, sparking conversations and giving visibility to a community that is typically excluded and systemically disenfranchised. The power of art to initiate conversations and transform attitudes is, well, pure awesomeness.
With several more projects planned, the group is just getting started in uniting trans communities, local artists, and the communities they live in. Contributing artists are financially compensated, offering a positive alternative for the trans population that often turns to sex work as their primary means of survival in India.
This Awesome Without Borders grant will be used to purchase painting supplies and rent camera equipment to document future projects. Get inspired by following them on Facebook here.