Tag: Kink | Varta Trust

This is a medium range indoor photograph of the launch ceremony of ‘Kink and Sex Work: A VAMP Institute Report’. The report launch was one of the highlights of ‘Kink Con 24’. Several people can be seen standing in a row, holding up a copy of the report, and facing the camera with a smile. From left to right are kink-affirmative psychologist and report co-author Pompi Banerjee; an anonymous member of the Kinky Collective who has covered their face with the report; feminist activist and report co-author Jaya Sharma; sex worker rights activist Aarthi Pai; theatre artist Mallika Taneja; sex worker rights activist Meena Seshu; and sex educator Leeza Mangaldas. A cinema screen and conference signage can be seen mounted on a wall behind the people mentioned. A few people in the audience can be seen seated while facing away from the camera. The conference room is illuminated gently with a mild golden glow. Photo courtesy Kinky Collective

Happenings Mar '25

On the right to one’s body and desires

By Pompi Banerjee

How sex workers navigate kinky desire and consent in their work was among the central themes of ‘Kink Con 2024’, writes Pompi Banerjee

This graphic is a word cloud created from key words extracted from the accompanying article. The cloud is in the shape of an abstract representation of a switch. Two isosceles triangles are placed vertically such that their bases face each other, but with a significant gap between the two triangles. The triangle on the right side is designed like a set square from a geometry instrument box and symbolizes ‘switch on’, while the triangle on the left side symbolizes ‘switch off’. The triangles are filled up with terms and expressions like BDSM, dominant, fluidity, kink, kink play, self-realization, spectrum, submissive, switch, slash and so on in different typefaces and colours. The triangles, themselves coloured in light pink, are placed inside a large square shape filled up with a light blue and white bokeh effect. The gap between the two triangles and the blur effect symbolize that kinkiness is more about fluidity than about binaries like dominant and submissive, which is the central argument of the accompanying article. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Commentary Jun '24

Why I am not a switch

By Lipikor, Jia Mata

In kink, ‘switch’ is something you do rather than what you are, argue Lipikor and Jia Mata

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows a panel discussion on kink and polyamory under way at ‘Kink Con Goa’ organized in April 2023. The photograph has been shot such that only the side profiles of the panel speakers are partially visible and all the faces have been blurred to ensure confidentiality. The speakers are looking away from the camera towards the panel moderator. The speakers are seated on a row of chairs along a wood-panelled wall inside a conference hall in a hotel. A large screen on the wall displays the topic of the panel discussion. The accompanying text, presented in an inset placed on the left bottom corner of the photograph, says: “‘Kink Con Goa’ was more than the sum of its parts. It gave Indian kinksters a sense of community beyond geographical borders. It fulfilled a need that had been growing for so long yet nobody was able to articulate what it was – a need to belong. We can be part of a community that is like us, we are not related by blood but in our thoughts, views and hearts.” Photo courtesy Nemo

Insight, My Story Jul '23

Self-esteem, freedom and kink

By Tiara Girl

The experience of ‘Kink Con Goa’, India’s first national kink convention, was transformational, says Tiara Girl

This visual is a photograph of a sketch drawn on a ringed note pad with plain off-white paper. The sketch shows an orange barrel full of yellow-green toxic waste with the label “Warning!!! Toxic relationships!!” The barrel also has a sign of a heart with cross-bones along with the hazardous waste symbol. The sign is placed in the centre, between the two lines of text mentioned. The toxic waste is overflowing from the top of the barrel and there are several red flags sticking out of the barrel with labels like “Insecurity”, “Gaslighting”, “Controlling”, “Isolating” and “Lack of Respect”, all telltale signs of toxic relationships. Artwork and photograph credit: Debjyoti Ghosh

Insight Apr '22

Logging out of toxic relationships

By Jia Mata

Jia Mata on social norms, toxicity in queer relationships, and what can be done to make things better

Travel Travel, Vartanama Jan '17

Art in museums, films, ropes and charpoys

By Pawan Dhall

I think I’m passing through a happy hours phase. No, not for guzzling beer or cheap Internet services; rather this is about being invigorated by the arts in all their...

Clickhappy! Dec '16

Cinema, erotic poetry, music and moves

By Pawan Dhall, Prosenjit Pal

Prosenjit Pal and Pawan Dhall were at the ‘Hang Out with KRPF’, a queer evening of arts and adda graciously hosted by Alliance Française du Bengale, Kolkata on December 2, 2016...

Tagged Under: Kink

On the right to one’s body and desires

Why I am not a switch

Self-esteem, freedom and kink

Logging out of toxic relationships

Art in museums, films, ropes and charpoys

Cinema, erotic poetry, music and moves

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