Unveiling Desire in South Asian Spaces: FAR-NEAR’s ‘No Fear’, Inspired by Saim Sadiq’s ‘Joyland’
FAR-NEAR’s first solo publication, ‘No Fear’, debuted this weekend at the New York Art Book Fair. Inspired by Saim Sadiq’s 2022 film ‘Joyland’ and shot at the Rajbari Bawali on the outskirts of Kolkata, the editorial examines sexuality and desire in South Asian spaces.
‘No Fear’ is the product of many explorative and bold identities coming together, with creative oversight by FAR-NEAR’s founder, Lulu Yao Gioiello. Creative director and stylist Raiheth Rawla set the scene for us. “We worked on using movement as a way to make the characters come alive and explore their sexual desires and identities at night. We were on the roof of a terrace in the process of construction at the Rajbari Bawali outside of Kolkata, India. The sky was lit up by stars, a full moon hung low, It was hot, the air thick with humidity – as we walked onto set, a shooting star ran through the sky, laying the foundation for the shoot. Three hours later, we were close to a thousand images in.”
Yaikhom Sushiel for FAR-NEAR, directed and styled by Raiheth Rawla and photographed by Ali Monis Naqvi.
Perhaps the most beautiful part about this project is how each character involved had faith in one another and built on each other’s ideas. “There was a sense of trust from the start with each individual involved in making these images,” Raiheth continues, a statement seconded by photographer Ali Monis Naqvi, who has shot for No Borders Shop before. “There was a deep, beautiful joy within it.”
Ali says, “You meet new people and have conversations, and those people show their intimate sides to you and they trust you with the process. It felt like we were all on the same page. We forgot that this was something we were doing for the issue, we just continued shooting because we were enjoying ourselves.” As a documentary photographer, Ali had rarely worked on an editorial shoot before. He describes this project as having been a liberating experience, particularly working with Yaikhom Sushiel (Sushiru) and No Borders’ very own Elton John. “I could see a discovery of identity. I had to document not just the scene, but their individuality.”
Elton John for FAR-NEAR, directed and styled by Raiheth Rawla and photographed by Ali Monis Naqvi.
The final piece of this poignant puzzle is a conversation between Shrestha Sen, a poet and educator, and Rasti Farooq, lead actress of ‘Joyland’, the film that deeply resonated with the makers of this editorial. Raiheth shared, “When I watched ‘Joyland’, I felt a sense of relief. The film captured the experience of what it’s like to grow up in South East Asia. The level of suppression is not something easily comprehensible or conveyed in language. Image does it, image is successful and movement is successful in conveying emotion.”
Through movement and image, ‘No Fear’ develops an emancipatory exploration of queer and body politics and self discovery. “In our own way Ali, Elton, Sushiru and I had lived through a version of suppression,” says Raiheth, “We had a deep understanding of it and the freedom that comes from going out at night, where you can morph into different characters or versions of yourself. I really love this.”
FAR-NEAR’s latest project seems to be an ode to individuality, as well as to the idea of collective creation. Raiheth shares, “Making art isn’t just about one person – there wouldn’t be any images if we didn’t have Ash (from Ash Kabir) or Kartik (from Karu Research) creating beautiful thoughtfully crafted clothing or if Elton hadn’t been enthusiastic and collaborative on how they were being styled or Sushiru moving like the wind in the night or Yona Kohen’s intricately hand strung jewelry pieces. Each and every person involved in the process of this shoot coming together had a little something to add and that little something led to the beauty of the images made by Ali. A work of art like that belongs to everyone involved in the process.”
‘No Fear’ is available on FAR-NEAR’s webshop.