The installation, How to be Your Self (Chapter 02 – You Get Dressed), consists of a 2 channel audio/video, which is projected on either sides of a free standing wooden partition. A regzine apron, an iron spool, and a seemingly endless scroll of cotton fabric inscribed with hand-painted text is scattered across the floor. The installation focuses on how society superficially judges women through appearance and action.

How to be Your Self (Chapter 02 – You Get Dressed), stages a Hindu mythological tale titled, Draupadi’s Cheer-Haran. This incident is one of the significant stories from ‘Mahabharata’, an epic book which is considered a sacred and important text in Hinduism. Here Draupadi, who has become the epitome of feminine power, is involved in a polyandrous marriage with five brothers, who are called Pandavas. She is insulted in the King’s court when her husbands’ decide to gamble with her life in a crucial game of dice. Cheer-Haran, which literally means stripping of one’s clothes, was imposed on her by the successful winner. Draupadi pleads with Lord Krishna for help and in response, He turns her clothing into a never-ending ream of cloth which prevents Draupadi from being disrobed.

The installation draw parallels between this ancient story and the women of today, who still experience shame in our society. In channel 1 of the audio/video we notice a man stripping realms of fabric from an iron spool. Channel 2 reveals an array of hand-painted phrases which suggest various codes of behaviour, on how women should dress and act. These edited phrases originate from chapter 2 titled, ‘A Lady Gets Dressed’ from the book, ‘How To Be A Lady’, 2001, by the American writer Candace Simpson-Giles. The iron spool, regzine apron and the endless fabric are all metaphors for the constant disrobing of women in our society.

How to be Your Self (Chapter 02 – You Get Dressed), is part of, How to be Your Self, an on-going multidisciplinary project inspired by the book, ‘How To Be A Lady’, 2001, by the American writer Candace Simpson-Giles. This book is compiled of chapters with guidelines for women, on how to apply common courtesies and behaviours in private and public. This book raises various issues regarding the world of patriarchy, feminism and was the impetus for women to tell their stories about identity and their roles in society. The book focuses on how society judges’ women superficially through action and appearance, which often goes unquestioned and unchallenged.