CHENNAI: Photo exhibition honours women in public spaces
Chennai: We see women every moment outside our home, commuting to and from trains, strolling in the streets, sweeping the roads, doing odd jobs and more. But have we ever wondered if public spaces are completely safe and accessible for them? As part of the launch of the Inclusive Design Manual under the Gender and Policy Lab initiative by the Greater Chennai Corporation on June 6, the team planned a photography exhibition to celebrate women in public spaces. Kala Collective participated to capture the true essence of how women engage with outdoor spaces. Women’s safety, mobility and gender-inclusive urban infrastructure are the main focus areas of Gender and Policy Lab.
“We have created a photography exhibition titled Aval Idam, which focuses on how to make public spaces more inclusive for different genders,” says Gayathri Nair, founder of Kala Collective. Around 20 photographers have captured the essence of how women interact with the environment. “Primarily, the aim of this event is to show how we relate to public spaces, as we often take them for granted. We need to understand that there are still spaces that are unsafe and inaccessible to women. The aim of this exhibition, in particular, is to encourage men to consider the challenges that women face when they step out of their homes. Ultimately, the city should be safe for all citizens, not just men. The idea is to start a conversation about this,” she explains. Launched on June 6, the Aval Idam exhibition will be open till June 15 at MRTS Park, Thiruvanmiyur from 6 am to 8 pm.
