In my drawings I get to decide what to show, how to show, and how much to show, says the sociology and law graduate.
Manimanjari Sengupta started using Instagram to showcase her artwork
Born in Kolkata, and based in Delhi, Manimanjari Sengupta’s tryst with painting began in her 20s. “It was only when I moved to Delhi that I started painting to make sense of my identity and sexuality, and to process the experiences I was having as a 20-something urban Indian woman living and working independently in the capital city,” shares the sociology and law graduate. In 2016, she started using Instagram to showcase her artwork. “It is a phenomenal platform for visual media and I derived a lot of inspiration from other artists’ work.
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Manimanjari Sengupta
Through my drawings, I wanted to contribute to the representation of women’s bodies and lived experiences. In a society that thrives on keeping them silenced, expressing myself through my art felt liberating, and the validation I received on the platform fuelled this expression,” she says, adding how she took this up alongside writing for a media and communications firm. Her works (Rs 500 to Rs 2,000) deal with themes of desire and body image, and are a means to challenge the norms of acceptable female behaviour as ordained by patriarchy and capitalism. “I make sexy drawings with the goal of representing women’s bodies experiencing pleasure, to reinforce the idea that sex can be enjoyable for women. As a female artist, I realise how much power I wield through my paintbrush. In my drawings I get to decide what to show, how to show, and how much to show.”
@manimanjari, Instagram
A portrait for your pet
As a kid, Mumbai-based Sayani Chatterjee took to painting, because she was too shy to “try out dancing or singing.” “I realised that I was able to express myself better, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” she remembers. It’s one of the reasons why she wanted to pursue art as a career. “But, I eventually took the safer route, did my post-graduation and joined corporate life.” Two years ago, she went back to the canvas, after a break of nearly 10 years, and started an Instagram page where she journals her artwork.
Sayani Chatterjee
She now pursues it, alongside her full-time job as a media professional. Chatterjee, a self-taught artist, does a lot of pet portraits—in pencil, acrylic and even digitally. Since Kolkata, her home city, and Mumbai continue to inspire her work, she also illustrates a lot of cityscapes. “I work on A4 size sheets, as well as large canvases. We even frame the works, depending on what the client wants,” she shares. If you have friends who have pets, this could make the perfect present for them and their goofballs.
@lost.palette, Instagram
The right swipe
Water-based, aerosol-free anti-bacterial solution
Early on in the pandemic, it was assumed that the virus can spread from infected people to the surfaces they touch. Unsurprisingly, there were cases of people cleaning their groceries with bleach and vinegar, and resultantly, getting ill. “Disinfection products in the market are highly toxic, use carcinogens in their formulations, aiding ozone layer depletion due to the use of aerosols,” says Varun Mukhi, director, Trifli Technologies Pvt. Ltd. It’s the reason his company chose to launch a line of sustainable products under Vetro Power, a business that has been into nanotechnology and clean-tech coatings since 2015.
Varun Mukhi
The water-based, aerosol-free, non-toxic preventive solution claims to kill 99.99 per cent germs safely for up to 90 days and prevents them from surviving on surfaces. For this, they partnered with a German laboratory that specialises in hygiene technology. Mukhi has also launched the nano mask protector, a water and liquid repellent that prevents the emission of contagious droplets while maintaining breathability. Their hand-cleansing wipes contain Vitamin E, tea tree oil and aloe vera extracts.
Vetropower.in
Smell, sip, repeat
Wouldn't it be great if our morning cuppa could be ready in 30 seconds? Pankti Chedda, founder of Moving Meals, who has been in this business of food dehydration since 2012, has made this possible. Her new creation, the organic coffee cube (R45 per packet) is meant to reduce your prep time without compromising on the quality.
They are bite-sized and come in three flavours, original, Irish coffee and hazelnut. “I’m somebody who likes my coffee to taste the same every day. But the result varies depending on the amount of coffee or water, or how long you heat it,” she says. In the lockdown, Chedda says she had time on her hands to make that, but since business has picked up, she wanted a quick and easy fix. mid-day sampled all three flavours. The Irish one had a natural sweetness with some light nut tones.
Pankti Chedda
It was strong without being overpowering. The original was a harmony of balanced tastes. Our favourite, however, was the hazelnut (a personal preference), which was roasty and subtle, something to be savoured during a morning break or after lunch.
@Movingmeals, Instagram
- Jane Borges
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