Joon Bajaj - MA Photography
Libaas (Garment)
"Libaas" explores the complexities of identity, gender, and cultural heritage through reworking images, textiles, and patterns. At the heart of the project is a 5-meter screen-printed fabric, featuring motifs redesigned from an original yellow shirt owned by the artist. This uncut fabric represents identity in its raw, unshaped form, occupying space boldly and challenging societal expectations. The vivid red color, symbolizing strength and fluidity, is paired with repetitive patterns that merge tradition with personal expression.
Additionally, the artist photographed a shirt hanging from a string, allowing natural folds and shadows to form as it would when left to dry. This unconventional display detaches the garment from traditional gendered meanings, emphasizing the fluidity of identity. Both the fabric and the hanging shirt symbolize the artist’s journey in reinterpreting masculine aesthetics and questioning cultural norms. Through "Libaas," the work invites viewers to reflect on the boundaries of identity and the significance of self-expression
