The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

bite artist review Another mind-blowing factor in this amazing creative individ- ual’s portfolio is that she began working as a photographer from the age of 17, shooting for top modelling agencies such as Elite, Ford and IMG while she completed her degree. After graduat- ing, she continued her career in London where she was awarded photography commissions by Vogue, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and many other international titles while still in her early twenties. Through photography, Indira focus on creating empowering images of women that encapsulated strength, sensitivity and intelligence. Not only is she behind the camera but she has appeared in front of the camera, having featured internationally on a series of TV shows and networks including Entertainment Tonight, MTV, In- side Edition, The Ricki Lake Show, High Society, Ford Supermodel of the World, Make Me a Supermodel US and UK editions, and Fashion One TV . She has also worked as a director on music videos, documentary shorts, fashion, and video art films. And she didn’t stop there either; in 2009, Indira launched online publication XXXX Magazine which comprises predominantly of original short films and video art productions. Two years later, the magazine was relaunched as the globally distributed print publication The Untitled Magazine , of which she is currently editor-in-chief. Besides presenting exclusive interviews with inspirational artists and featuring articles on culture and politics, Indira oversees all the creative direction and content, as well as contributing as a photographer and jour- nalist. It was from this that she broadened her work to include art curatorial and founded The Untitled Space art gallery as a platform to support feminist art, allowing her creative vision to explore both traditional and new mediums. An artist who likes to investigate themes from all angles, Indira started curating about 10 years ago. “One of the first big shows I curated was at Art Basel Miami in 2010, it was an incredi- ble experience.” Her love of collaborating with other artists has allowed her to bring forth their perspectives. “I am constantly inspired by new ideas and wish I had time to explore them all.” And with empowering feminist themes often being a point of departure for her artwork, she connects with thematic subject matters that engage a narrative of social discourse and art ac- tivism. In her artwork, Indira often challenges the status quo, as well as tackle stereotypes and double standards. Her approach is quite quirky and not at all provocative or flamboyant but is rather gentle whilst bringing a strong message that makes you sit up and notice. Some of her creations may have words like ‘lust’ and ‘slut’ but these are terms that have been used to describe an emotion or a label. “I tend to draw from historical narratives in an effort to create empowering artwork that can have an impact on the view, to be a catalyst for change or provide insight into history which may have been overlooked.” Two of her favourite exhibitions she curated for at The Unti- tled Space are ‘UPRISE/ANGRY WOMEN’ and ‘ONE YEAR OF RESISTANCE’. “Both featured works by 80 artists, and were heavily focused on art activism, created in response to the po- litical climate after Trump was elected. It was a very rewarding experience to work on those shows, and I think they are both probably the most well-known of my curatorial.” Another per- sonal favourite of hers, the ‘EDEN’ exhibition, recently held at the UN Plaza explored feminist artwork inspired by the Garden of Eden and really resonated with her as an artist. As well as curating for other artists and producing great work, one of the highlights of her career was showing at the Metro- politan Museum of Art. “It was a benefit group show, and as I walked into the museum, all four walls of the grand hall fea- tured 50-foot projections simultaneously of my video art for over 1000 guests. It was an unforgettable experience to see that.” Never short on ideas, one of Indira’s most intriguing projects was ‘ONLY YOU’, a 2017 exhibition of artwork featuring pho- tography, video and sculpture which included a special perfor- mance by dance company Bryn Cohn + Artists. It was a conceptual narrative portrait series that chronicled a woman’s emotions as she traverses a metaphorical landscape of love, loss and betrayal. Each artwork was part of the greater narrative of her story and a history of suffering that she experi- enced through her traumatic relationship. The video art version of ‘ONLY YOU’ first premiered in 2010 at the Art Basel Miami exhibition in collaboration with American Friends of The Lou- vre and Miami Art Museum. The piece went on to be screened internationally at venues including London’s Red Bull Studios, Cannes Film Festival and Big Screen Plaza in New York.