and yes, i did oscillate between amusement, disbelief, dismay, amazement, but came down on the side of understanding. reflexivity - self or communal - can easily become a caricature of political correctness, and we’re all in danger of getting that way occasionally. good thing we can laugh at ourselves when that happens. :)

it’s interesting though, the number of ways a mask paint photo can be interpreted. i have one of me, that jasmeen took, up in my room and i love it because a chosen representation is so inevitably one that is finely polished - hair in place, skin glowing, make up on. whereas these representations question what you intend at all by any kind of ‘representation’ - since they don’t actually accentuate features at all- -they hide them, yet they show you the person.

also mine makes me look ugly/bizarre and the haldi mask is blotchy and i love that because it’s such a relief from the perfection of most self chosen representations.

and yeah it was really fun doing the photo shoot. fish eye lens and haldi mask is a great combination especially if you’re not particular what you look like :)