Two years ago Nimi & Shiva travelled to Wolfsburg, Germany to participate in Empowerment. An exhibition at the Kunsmuseum featuring over a 100 artists and five collectives from across the world, of which Sandbox Collective was one. Two years later we're very happy to be the Art Mediators on the same project as it opens in Pune on 5 October. (Other Indian cities in 2025). Besides the actual exhibition we've put together some very exciting performances, panel discussions, talks and workshops and last but not the least, The Feminist Library travels to Empowerment in association with Pagdandi, Pune.
Sandbox Collective is a women-led, feminist arts organisation comprising women from very diverse backgrounds working at the intersection of art and gender.
We started in 2013 with the motive of creating better access to the arts. Our journey thus far has seen us take on multiple roles, including that of creative producers, curators and presenters of performances and arts festivals across India and Internationally.
Over the years our ideas on what art means to us, its place in our world, our responsibilities to it and to society have constantly evolved; evolved with the paths we're walking with a multitude of incredible artists and fellow humans. Our hope and dream is for a compassionate feminist world with more community-led arts spaces where artists work for, and with each other.
Studio 345
Our most recent endeavour has been the creation of Studio 345 in January' 2024. This is an intimate, creative, gathering space in the heart of Cooke Town, Bangalore. The studio hosts a permanent feminist library with a growing collection of books, zines and periodicals.
It also hosts an artists' showcase every month featuring the works of an individual artist or collective. Other events include workshops, classes and events centred around language, books, literature and publishing.
Studio 345 is set up with the aim of creating neighbourhood hubs with easier access to and for art and artists and to integrate arts into our communities.
All events and activities are free, unticketed and open to the public.
Sri Vamsi Matta X Sandbox Collective
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, moderated by Sri Vamsi Matta. This discussion will delve into both the historical and ongoing intersections of caste, medicine, and nutrition, providing a critical space for reflection and dialogue. We will explore the social and systemic structures that impact health and well-being. Alongside this, participants will get a chance to learn about Dr. Karpagam’s journey, insights, and the motivations behind her work.
Date: 18th October
Time: 5:30 PM
Age Limit: 16+
Sri Vamsi Matta X Sandbox Collective
The workshop is centered around the concept of using food as a medium to unlock and share personal stories, inviting participants to explore their personal narratives through a culinary lens. It evokes the connection between food, memory, and identity. We will be using narrative practices, storytelling practices, visual design and theatre. People with any kind of practice or wanting to build a practice are open to attend.
*Popula dabba is a Telugu word for a spice box, or masala box, that is a staple in most Indian kitchens.
Date: 19th October
Time: 11AM-4PM
Age Limit: 16+
Sri Vamsi Matta X Sandbox Collective
Come Eat With Me is a performance piece that explores the relationship between caste and food while sharing a meal together. Focusing on Dalit Cuisine, the piece begins with personal stories and oral histories around food in my household and community and is peppered with existing literature and academic writing around the multilayered, many flavored relationships between caste and food. The piece unpacks questions of oppression and solidarity, grief and joy, and the everyday victories of the human spirit in the face of structural injustices. Audiences are invited to eat together and share their own stories around caste and food.
Date: 20th October
Time: 6 PM
Age Limit: 16+
Join us for Sex in the City, an immersive multimedia performance by Indu Harikumar that invites you not just to witness, but to participate. Drawing from eight years of research on gender, sexuality, and body politics, the piece weaves personal stories, illustrations, and live performance to explore themes like pleasure, consent, vulnerability, and gender-based violence.
This performance is for adults (18+), and as the audience, you'll be invited to reflect on your own experiences. It culminates with everyone joining in a gentle dance, embracing a shared sense of release and connection.
Date: 26th October
Time: 6 PM
Age Limit: 18+