In the midst of an increasing number of cases of sexual assault, students of Srishti School of Arts, Design and Technology (SSADT) organised an exhibition in a unique space: a moving Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus. Travelling around the city, postcards, photos and stickers were used to create awareness about the problems faced by women while travelling by bus.
“The objective was to go beyond activism and use art creatively to spread the message,” said Deepak Srinivasan, a faculty at SSADT.
The students spoke to many women bus conductors and passengers to bring out perspectives of different people travelling by bus. “Women don’t have to show themselves as Jhansi ki Rani to protect themselves while travelling”, said Gavati Nad, who made an art essay of her experience while travelling in a bus dressed as Jhansi ki Rani.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maria Shakir had a combination of photos and illustrations, which speak about the problems faced by women vendors while travelling in a bus. “Many women vegetable and flower vendors told me that they have to pay extra for their luggage even though they have a bus pass,” she said.
Anwesha Chakrabarty, Prachi Malviya and Bhagya Mathew exhibited a scripted graphic comic series, which speaks of how a woman becomes a super conductor to protect herself.
After looking at the displays, Krishna G., a bus conductor, said, “I want women to understand that only if they take the initiative and speak will we be able to help them.”
ADVERTISEMENT
A woman conductor said, “Men will always find a way to avoid punishment and repeat their mistakes unless punishment becomes stricter.”