“That splendid dwelling place of my beloved” is a series of embroidered photographs of secret lovers, taken in Surat, India.
Exhibited at Tapi Utsav, Surat, India Feb/March 2020
The stretch of Udhna Magdalla Rd close to Someshwar Junction is a favourite spot for secret Surti lovers to meet under trees and spend time together. The titles of the photographs are taken from the poems of the Chaurapanchasika; written by the 11th century Kashmiri poet Kavi Bilhana to his lover, whom he was forbidden to marry. The images in this series, were all taken with the permission of those portrayed, on the condition that their identity remained anonymous. The golden embroidery was done by the multi-skilled artist Ankita Sadiwala. This work consists of 4 framed 8 x 12 inch black and white photographs with golden embroidery, strategically placed to hide the identity of the people in the photographs.