The article presents Praween Devi's portrait, highlighting her unique approach to reclaiming space within a patriarchal context through embroidery. Meeting in 2019 as part of the Nari project, she invited the author into her home, showcasing personal touches and traditional craft techniques. By incorporating women's figures into the male-dominated portrait, she defies traditional norms, illustrating the struggle against gender-based violence in India. The Nari project reflects extensive fieldwork documenting women's experiences, emphasizing their stories through artistic collaboration.
When I asked to take her photograph, she suggested the main hall of her home, mentioning its lack of decoration and how the walls were bare except for a framed image of flowers and, notably, a photograph of all the men in the house.
Her additions transform the image: through needle and thread, she asserts her presence, reclaiming a space dominated by the male gaze; a quiet defiance of patriarchy and a powerful sense of solidarity.
Nari, a Sanskrit word for woman, carries multiple meanings, including sacrifice. In India, where domestic violence is alarmingly common, many women I met weren't even allowed to leave their homes.
I travelled to them, photographing them in the spaces where they felt most at ease. I printed these portraits on khadi, a handspun fabric, and asked them to embroider over the images.
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