Joint Statement Promoting Safe Spaces Within the South Asian Arts Community

Image Courtesy: Your Story

As active stakeholders in the South Asian arts community, we are concerned by the growing number of allegations of sexual harassment and reports of hostile work environments. These are serious concerns that need to be addressed with urgency.

The art world is amorphous in nature: social mobility is dependent on informal networking and personal and professional spaces cannot be easily separated. Survivors who publicly tell their stories face serious forms of retaliation. They are reluctant to disclose their identities because they fear losing work. As a community, we commit to ensuring that people who are speaking out are protected, and that professional opportunities are not denied to them. We respect the truth and stand in solidarity with those who come out with their stories.

We strongly object to the use of defamation as a method to intimidate and silence survivors and those who represent their interests. We call on all our peers; artists; curators; gallerists; collectors; writers; and heads of both public and private institutions to commit to the safeguarding of survivor accounts. We request them to rigorously advocate for open and supportive spaces that allow women, trans people, queer people, and those who have been disenfranchised by caste and class structures to voice their concerns and find support.

We pledge to collectively reflect, ideate and act on developing the necessary legal and informal support mechanisms to address these challenges. We will do our best to protect spaces for open conversations, and uphold basic codes of professionalism.

The undersigned,

1. Aashna Jhaveri, Artist, Mumbai

2. Abdullah Qureshi, Visual Artist and Researcher, Helsinki

3. Abhay Sardesai, Editor and Writer, Mumbai

4. Abhineet Singh, Founder, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

5. Abhinit Khanna, Independent Arts Manager and Consultant, Mumbai

6. Abhishek Hazra, Artist, Banglore

7. Abir Karmakar, Artist, Baroda

8. Adam Bainbridge, Musician, London

9. Adam Szymczyk, Artistic Director, ducumenta 14, Athens/Kassel

10. Aditya Kapoor, Photographer and Filmmaker, New Delhi

11. Aditya Pande, Artist, New Delhi

12. Adwait Singh, Independent Curator and Writer, New Delhi

13. Afrah Shafiq, Artist/Filmmaker, Goa

14. Akansha Rastogi, Senior Curator, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi

15. Alok Vaid-Menon, Artist, New York

16. Amar Kanwar, Artist, New Delhi

17. Ameet Sikka, Fashion Stylist, New Delhi

18. Amna Hashmi, Art Educator and Practitioner (Assistant Professor), COMSATS, University, Islamabad

19. Amol K Patil, Artist, Mumbai

20. Amshu Chukki, Artist, Bengaluru

21. Andrew Ananda Voogel, Artist, Taipei

22. Anisa Nariman, Food Writer and Chef, New Delhi, India

23. Anita Khemka, Photographer, Delhi

24. Anita Rani, TV Presenter, London

25. Anjali Monteiro, Filmmaker and Academician, Mumbai

26. Anjalika Sagar, Artist, The Otolith Group, London

27. Ankur Tewari, Musician, Mumbai

28. Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Artist and Professor, University of Rhode Island, Bangalore/Rhode Island

29. Anoushka Shankar, Sitarist and Composer, London

30. Anurag Banerjee, Photographer, Bombay

31. Anusha Yadav, The Memory Company, Mumbai

32. Anushka Rajendran, Curator, New Delhi

33. Archana Hande, Artist, Bombay

34. Arijit Bhattacharya, Artist, India

35. Arnav Adhikari, Writer/Editor, New Delhi

36. Arnika Ahldag, JNU, New Delhi

37. Aruna Chandrasekhar, Independent Photojournalist, Bangalore

38. Aruna Keshav, Assistant Director, GALLERYSKE, Bangalore

39. Asmita Parelkar, Photographer, Mumbai

40. Astha Butail, Artist, Gurgaon

41. Aunohita Mojumdar, Editor, Himal Southasian, Colombo

42. Avantika Bhuyan, Freelance Writer, New Delhi

43. Avinash Veeraraghavan, Artist, Bangalore

44. Ayesha Jatoi, Artist, Lahore

45. Aziz Sohail, Curator and Writer, Karachi/Los Angeles

46. Bharat Sikka, Photographer, New Delhi

47. Bhavika Aggarwal, Designer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

48. Bikkil Sthapit, Artist, Nepal

49. Boshudhara Mukherjee, Artist, Bangalore/Mumbai/Kurseon

50. Bunu Dhungana, Visual Artist, Kathmandu

51. Chandrika Grover Ralleigh, Consultant, Cultural Strategy, New Delhi

52. Charles Esche (Prof.), Director, Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven

53. Chinar Shah, Artist, Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore

54. Clare Lilley, Director of Programme, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK

55. Cosmin Costinas, Director, Para Site, Hong Kong

56. Cynthia Packert, Middlebury College, Vermont

57. David Sanderson, Times Arts Correspondent, London

58. Dayanita Singh, Artist, New Delhi

59. Deborah Bruguera, Activist, Padova

60. Deep Kailey, Creative Director, London

61. Deepak Ananth, Art Historian and Curator, Paris, France

62. Deepali Dewan, Senior Curator of South Asian Art & Culture, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

63. Devika Bakshi, Writer and Teacher, Delhi

64. Devika Daulet-Singh, Director, PHOTOINK, New Delhi

65. Dhruv Malhotra, Photographer, Jaipur

66. Dia Mehhta Bhupal, Artist, Hyderabad

67. Diana Campbell Betancourt, Artistic Director, Samdani Art Foundation, Chief Curator, Dhaka Art Summit

68. Dileep Prakash, Artist, New Delhi

69. Dinesh Khanna, Photographer, Delhi

70. Diva Gujral, PhD scholar, University College London, London

71. Dr Emilia Terracciano, Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, London/Oxford

72. Dr Rashmi Poddar, Director, Jnanapravaha, Mumbai

73. Eesha Patkar, Editorial Manager, Saffronart, Mumbai

74. Elvira Dyangani Ose, Director, The Showroom, London

75. Emilia Bergmans, Founder, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

76. Fiza Khatri, Artist, Karachi

77. Frances Morris, Director, Tate Modern, London

78. Gabi Ngcobo, Independent Curator, Co-Director, Nothing Gets Organised (NGO), Lecturer, Wits School of Arts, Johannesburg

79. Garima Gupta, Artist and Researcher, New Delhi

80. Gauri Gill, Artist, New Delhi

81. Gayatri Nair, Founding member, Chennai Photo Biennale/CPB Foundation, Chennai

82. Guerrilla Girls, Artists, USA

83. Hadrien Diez, Curatorial Advisor, Bengal Foundation, Dhaka

84. Helmut Schippert, Co-Founder, Chennai Photo Biennale/CPB Foundation, Chennai

85. Hem Partap Singh, Designer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

86. Hena Kapadia, Gallery Director, TARQ, Mumbai

87. Henri-Claude, Curator and Former Director of École de Beaux-Arts, Paris, France

88. Himali Singh Soin, Writer and Artist, New Delhi/London

89. Iftikhar Dadi, Director, South Asia Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

90. Itisha Giri, Poet, Madrid/Kathmandu

91. Jeroo Mullah, Social Communications & Media, Professor and Dancer

92. Jessica Lim, Festival Director, Angkor Photo Festival, Singapore/Cambodia

93. Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra, Artists, New Delhi

94. Joe Paul Cyriac, Photographer, Thiruvananthapuram

95. Jyoti Dhar, Art Critic, Colombo

96. K. P. Jayasankar, Filmmaker and Academician, Mumbai

97. Kai Altmann, Artist, Musician and Curator, Worldwide

98. Kamayani Sharma, Art Critic, New Delhi

99. Kanika Makhija, Artist and Researcher, Mumbai

100. Karan Shrestha, Artist and Filmmaker, Kathmandu/Mumbai

101. Karishma Dev Dube, Filmmaker, New York

102. Karma Wangchuk, Artist, Bhutan

103.Karthik Subramanian, Photographer, Chennai

104. Kartik Sood, Artist, Shimla

105. Kavan Balasuriya, Artist, Sri Lanka

106. Ketaki Sheth, Photographer, Mumbai

107. Kiran Nadar, Chairperson, KNMA, New Delhi

108. Krishnaraj Chonat, Artist, Bangalore

109. Kuldeep Patil, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi

110. Kush Badhwar, Artist, Sydney/Mumbai

111. Madhavi Gore, Artist, Bardez

112. Madhuban Mitra, Artist, Kolkata

113. Mahendra Sinh, Photographer, Mumbai

114. Malini Kochupillai, Artist and Urban researcher, New Delhi

115. Manas Bhattacharya, Artist, Kolkata

116. Manishikha Baul, Performing Artist, Delhi

117. Mario Ashley DSouza, Curator and Writer, New Delhi.

118. Martha Rosler, Artist, Brooklyn, New York

119. Medha Khosla, Designer Entrepreneur, ANOMALY, Delhi

120. Meera Menezes, Art Writer, New Delhi

121. Megha Rawla, Designer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

122. Megha Roy, Copy-Writer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

123. Mila Sambdub, Writer, New Delhi

124. Mithu Sen, Artist, New Delhi

125. Monali Meher, Artist, Gent, Belgium

126. Mortimer Chatterjee, Director, Chatterjee & Lal, Mumbai

127. Munem Wasif, Artist, Dhaka

128. Mustafa Khanbhai, Artist, New Delhi

129. Nada Raza, Curator, Dubai

130. Naeem Mohaiemen, Artist and Writer, Dhaka

131. Nalini Malani, Artist, Mumbai

132. Nandita Jaishankar, Editor, New Delhi

133. Natasha Ginwala, Writer and Curator, Colombo

134. NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati, Director, Photo Kathmandu, Kathmandu

135. Nihaal Faizal, Artist, Bangalore

136. Nikhil Chopra, Artist, Bardez

137. Nikhil Kaul, Designer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

138. Nilanjana S Roy, Author, New Delhi

139. Niranjan Kunwar, Education Consultant and Writer, Kathmandu

140. Orijit Sen, Director, People Tree, Goa

141. Ornella D’Souza, Senior Feature Writer, Daily News & Analysis (DNA), Mumbai

142. Pakhi Sen, Artist, New Delhi

143. Paribartana Mohanty, Artist, New Delhi

144. Parni Ray, New Delhi

145. Parul Vadhera, Director, Vadhera Art Gallery New Delhi

146. Payal Khandwala, Painter and Clothesmaker, Mumbai

147. Phalguni Desai, Writer and Producer, Mumbai

148. Philippe Calia, Artist, Mumbai

149. Philippe Pirotte, Rector Staedelschule and Director Portikus, Frankfurt

150. Pooja Pant, Artist, Nepal

151. Prabhakar Pachpute, Artist, Pune

152. Prabhavathi Meppayil, Artist, Bangalore

153. Prajakta Potnis, Visual Artist, Mumbai

154. Praneet Soi, Artist, Kolkata/Amsterdam

155. Prarthna Singh, Photographer, Mumbai

156. Prashant Panjiar, Photographer and Curator, Goa

157. Prateek Raja, Director, Experimenter, Kolkata

158. Prawin Adhikari, Asst. Editor, La.Lit, Kathmandu

159. Premjish, Curator and Critic, Delhi

160. Preti Taneja, Writer, United Kingdom

161. Princess Pea, The Pea Family Studio, Gurgaon

162. Priyadarshini Ravichandran, Photographer, Auroville/Chennai

163. Priyanka D’Souza, Artist, Mumbai

164. Priyanka Raja, Director, Experimenter, Kolkata

165. Pulak Bhatnagar, Designer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

166. Pundoles, Mumbai

167. Pushpamala N, Artist, Bangalore

168. Qudsia Rahim, Executive Director, Lahore Biennale Foundation

169. Rachel Spence, Poet and Arts Writer , London

170. Radha Mahendru, Arts Manager and Filmmaker, Delhi

171. Radhika Chopra, Collector, New Delhi

172. Ragini Bhow, Artist, Bangalore

173. Rahaab Allana, Curator and Publisher, New Delhi

174. Rahel Aima, Writer and Editor, New York

175. Rajyashri Goody, Artist, Pune

176. Ramona Dmello, Digital Marketing Manager, Saffronart, Mumbai

177. Randhir Singh, Photographer, New Delhi

178. Ranjana Steinruecke, Director, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai

179. Ranjit Kandalgaonkar, Artist and Researcher, Mumbai

180. Rashmi Sawhney, Associate Professor Film & Cultural Studies, Christ University, Bangalore

181. Rashmi Varma, Designer, New Delhi

182. Rebecca John, Curator and Researcher, Berlin

183. Reeta Loi, Writer and Musician, CEO Gaysians, London

184. Reetu Sattar, Artist, Dhaka

185. Rhea Maheshwari, Assistant Director, GALLERYSKE, New Delhi

186. Rishi Singhal, Discipline Lead – Photography Design, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

187. Ritesh Uttamchandani, Photographer, Mumbai, India

188. Rithika Merchant, Artist, Mumbai/Barcelona

189. Ronny Sen, Photographer and Filmmaker, Kolkata

190. Roobina Karode, Director and Chief Curator, KNMA, New Delhi

191. Rosalyn Dmello, Art Writer and Author, New Delhi

192. Roshni Vadhera, Director, Vadhera Art Gallery New Delhi

193. Rudra Rakshit, Photographer, Bangalore/Pune/Sakleshpur

194. Rupali Patil, Artist, Pune

195. Sabih Ahmed, Researcher, Asia Art Archive in India, New Delhi

196. Sadia Marium, Photographer, Dhaka

197. Sahil Naik, Artist, Ponda

198. Saif Hasnat, Journalist and Lyricist, United News of Bangladesh (UNB)

199. Sakshi Gupta, Artist, Mumbai

200. Salima Hashmi, Artist and Educator, Lahore

201. Samira Bose, Writer and Researcher, New Delhi

202. Sana Nasir, Art Director and Illustrator, Karachi

203. Sandip Kuriakose, Artist and Writer, New Delhi

204. Sania Galundia, Researcher and curator, Jaipur

205. Sanjana Hattotuwa, Founding Editor, Groundviews.org, Colombo, Sri Lanka

206. Sathi Guin, Artist, Baroda

207. Savia Mahajan, Artist, Mumbai

208. Saviya Lopes, Artist, Bombay

209. Seher Shah, Artist, New Delhi

210. Sethu Vaidyanathan, Trustee, CPB Foundation, Chennai

211. Shahidul Alam, Photographer, Writer and Activist, Dhaka

212. Shaleen Wadhwana, Independent Arts Professional, New Delhi

213. Shanay Jhaveri, Curator, New York/Mumbai

214. Sharareh Bajracharya, Chairperson, Srijanalaya, Kathmandu

215. Shaunak Mahbubani, Curator, New Delhi

216. Shazia Salam, Artist, Bangalore

217. Sheela Gowda, Artist, Bangalore

218. Sheelasha Rajbhandari, Artist, Artree Nepal, Kathmandu

219. Sheena Dabholkar, LOVER Magazine, Nerul

220. Shibesh Mehrotra, Copy-Writer, the Brewhouse, New Delhi

221. Shireen Gandhy, Gallerist, Mumbai

222. Shirley Bhatnagar, Artist and Designer, New Delhi

223. Shiv Ankit Ahuja, Artist, Gurgaon

224. Shivanjani Lal, Artist, Bombay/Sydney

225. Shubigi Rao, Artist, Singapore

226. Shuchi Kapoor, Founding member, Chennai Photo Biennale/CPB Foundation, Chennai

227. Shumon Basar, Curator, Writer and Editor, Dubai/Berlin

228. Sitara Chowfla, Curator, London/New Delhi

229. Skye Arundhati Thomas, Writer and Editor, Mumbai

230. Smita Prabhakar, Collector, Dubai

231. Sneha Ragavan, Researcher, Asia Art Archive in India, New Delhi

232. Sofia Karim, Architect & Artist, London UK

233. Sohrab Hura, Photographer, New Delhi

234. Solange Farkas, Director & Curator, Associação Cultural Videobrasil, São Paulo

235. Sooni Taraporevala, Photographer, Screenwriter and Filmmaker, Mumbai

236. Sosa Joseph, Artist, Kochi

237. Soumyadip Ghosh, Researcher & Archive Manager, PHOTOINK, New Delhi

238. Srinivas Kuruganti, Photographer, Mumbai

239. Sudarshan Shetty, Artist, Mumbai

240. Sukanya Ghosh, Artist, New Delhi

241. Sumitra, Researcher and Curator, Bangalore

242. Sunil Padwal, Artist, Mumbai

243. Sunitha Kumar Emmart, Director, GALLERYSKE, Bangalore

244. Suresh Kumar G, Artist and Arts Facilitator, Bangalore

245. Swapnaa Tamhane, Artist and Curator, Montreal, CA

246. Tania Bruguera, Artist, Havana

247. Tanvi Mishra, Creative Director, The Caravan Magazine, Independent Curator, New Delhi

248. Tanya Goel, Artist, New Delhi

249. Tanzim Wahab, Chief Curator, Bengal Foundation, Dhaka

250. Tara Kelton, Artist, Bangalore

251. Tara Lal, Director, Chatterjee & Lal, Mumbai

252. Tarana Sawhney, Collector, New Delhi

253. Tausif Noor, Curatorial Fellow, Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia

254. Tejal Shah, Artist, Delhi

255. Thomas Pouppez, Arts Manager, Kathmandu

256. Trishla Talera, TIFA Working Studios, Pune

257. Umer Butt, Director, Gallery Grey Noise, Dubai

258. Urvashi Butalia, Publisher, Zubaan Books

259. Ute Meta Bauer, Curator and Director, Center for Contemporary Art, NTU, Singapore

260. Varun Gupta, Co-Founder, Chennai Photo Biennale/CPB Foundation, Chennai

261. Varunika Saraf, Artist/Art Historian, Hyderabad

262. Veera Rustomji, Artist, Karachi

263. Veeranganakumari Solanki, Independent Curator/Art Writer, Pune

264. Vidisha S, Artist-Curator, New Delhi

265. Vidya Shivdas, Director, FICA, New Delhi

266. Vidyun Sabhaney, Artist/Editor, Delhi

267. Vivek Premachandran, Artist, New Delhi

268. Yabya Kewat, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Fine Arts, Pune

269. Yogesh S Barve, Artist, Mumbai

270. Zain Masud, Art Advisor, London

271. Zeenat Nagree, Writer, Mumbai

272. Zishaan A Latif, Photography/Films, Mumbai

273. Zubin Ekka, Arts Manager, GALLERYSKE, New Delhi