White shadow

Concept Note

It is a painting of a dark-skinned girl trying to make herself “attractive," to make her skin fair enough to wear light clothes, enough to be able to attend social events with confidence, enough to get a boy to like her. I developed the concept after seeing my cousin's sister bring two fairness creams with her on a trip, and was using them at least twice daily. Just to get rid of the name her mother and society gave her — kaalu. As she is applying the cream she is removing a part of herself as portrayed with a halo-like effect around the body. The girl is in a moment of hesitation as her true self, a dark-skinned girl peeks from behind to seek validation. She wants to be accepted and appreciated for who she is.

ABOUT ARTIST

Alif is a contemporary artist working in Delhi practicing art for a decade.
His paintings cover a large spectrum from subtle watercolours to intense dramatic canvases.