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Winter-Spring/Summer 2006 
Bollywood Satirized

As described by the artist, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, “The digital portfolio, Bollywood Satirized, is a critical commentary on the societal expectations that I experienced as a woman growing up in India. To create this work, I start with Indian movie posters, a reflection of the popular culture and the melodrama of Indian life. The visual and aural presence of cinema in India is the result of the largest commercial film industry in the world that produces close to one thousand movies a year. Most of the film industry is concentrated in Bombay, which is also called Bollywood. Using digital technology to alter the Indian movie posters, I re-interpret the images to make blatantly satirical commentary and humorously challenge traditional gender roles and behavior in Indian society based on my experiences. The final images include myself, other imagery, and text from other sources. As Deborah Frizzell in NY Arts 2001 wrote, ‘The sensual, seductive medium of mass produced Indian movie posters of banal musicals are manipulated to send messages about the construction of feminine and racial roles by a patriarchal society.’”

Annu Palakunnathu Matthew’s recent exhibitions include the Victoria & Albert Museum, London England; Sepia International, New York City; the RISD Museum, Providence, RI; the Museum of Modern Art in Moscow; and LeMois de la Photo à Montréal. Among the many recent grants supporting Matthew’s work are the John Gutmann Fellowship, the American Institute of Indian Studies Creative Arts Fellowship, and a New Works grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. Her work can be found in the collection of the George Eastman House, Rochester, NY; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX; the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ; and the RISD Museum, Providence, RI. Matthew’s work is included in the book BLINK from Phaidon, which celebrates the quality and vision of today’s 100 most exciting international contemporary photographers. Images of her work are also in the book Digital Art by Christiane Paul, curator of New Media Arts at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Annu Palakunnathu Matthew is an Associate Professor of Art (Photography) at the University of Rhode Island and is represented by Sepia International Inc., New York City.

This exhibit runs from January 2–June 16, 2006 in the Lane Hall Gallery, 204 S. State Street. Lane Hall Gallery hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, M–F.

Co-sponsored by the Center for the Education of Women’s Frances and Sydney Lewis Visiting Leaders Fund and Women's Studies

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Last updated Thursday, May 04, 2006.