Hello everyone.
The last two years have been big for me. I left a toxic long-term relationship, came out as trans masculine, and started my MA in visual and media anthropology. All in all, it’s been a journey and then some.
Being a South Asian trans masculine artist and anthropologist has made me realise that ours is a community that severely lacks representation. Growing up through the ‘90s and 2000s, I barely found people who were like me: queer + trans and South Asian. It’s like Lou Sullivan wrote about in his childhood diary, “I wanna look like what I am but don’t know what someone like me looks like.”
I want to change that. I *need* to change that.
HOW DO YOU PLAN ON DOING THAT?
Some of you may have been following me closely for the last two years and as such, you would have been seeing the work I put out. I write poetry and monologues for performance purposes, I devise photo shoots using myself (and eventually other trans masculine / queer people) as subjects, and I create resources about being trans and neurodivergent in a South Asian context (this has been less frequent though).
Going forward, I also plan to do two rather unique things: create mixed media collages and illustrations and build an archive/gallery dedicated to preserving queer and trans media from South Asia (the latter is a rather fluid idea, but a tangible one nonetheless).
WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US?
Resources, or to put it in simpler terms: MONEY.
In an ideal world where every person would have generational wealth, many of us would be funnelling that into being our best creative selves. Unfortunately, I come from no such wealth and I most definitely do not come from a family that considers being an artist and anthropologist as a vocation that is either lucrative or respectful.
HOW DO YOU PLAN ON USING THE MONEY YOU RECEIVE?
Food and bills, for a start. I’m a hungry lad who has just started on testosterone, so I need to be eating a fair few meals a day.
I also plan to put in whatever money I earn, aside from this, into this project. After settling the minimal amount of debt I have accrued as a functioning member of capitalism-driven society, I will invest in better technical equipment and better furniture and resources to turn my home into my arts studio (of sorts).
Most importantly, I believe strongly in mutual aid and giving back to my community. I want to put aside ₹10,000 a month (from the amount I raise) to donate to fundraisers and mutual aid initiatives aimed at the upliftment of queer, trans, and disabled individuals both within my circles and beyond.
WILL YOU CONTINUE PROFESSIONAL WORK?
Yes, to a certain extent.
I want to have the liberty to exercise restraint with respect to the writing and editing jobs I take on because in the past (and even the present, for that matter), I have worked jobs with toxic work culture, supremely low pay, excruciatingly long payment wait times…the list goes on.
I will continue to take on assignments that align with my values and to keep my portfolio updated (for the purposes of capitalism).
CAN’T YOU ACQUIRE THIS MONEY THROUGH GRANTS?
I take it you aren’t familiar with art-based grants. Let me break it down.
Art-based grants, both in India and globally, are both limited in their amounts (seriously, I have earned more money from writing jobs than grants offer) and reserved for individuals who are cisgender, heterosexual, dominant culture, and able-bodied.
I am a neurodivergent bisexual transgender artist with a dependent (my dog Weenie) and medical needs. Does that answer your question?
(I do plan to apply to grants *if* they can account for the costs I would have to incur to produce said art, as well as feed me)
ALRIGHT, HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED?
So glad you asked.
I want to democratise this process and so, I am benchmarking contributions at a singular rate to ensure that my art is accessible to everybody.
I am looking for $7 a month from 150 people (for people based in India, this amount is ₹550-560) to start with.
Alternatively, you can send me larger / one-off amounts (if the $7/month doesn’t work for you).
HOW CAN WE SEND YOU THIS MONEY?
So glad you asked (again)!
I have set up a Steady page for people outside India to subscribe for the $7/month amount.
Here are some other options:
PayPal: paypal.me/bombaybejaar
UPI ID (only for people in India): lavanya.narayan92@okhdfcbank