In Our Own Backyard

‘How many feminists do you need to change an electric bulb?’ asked Indian writer and activist Kamla Bhasin and author and illustrator Bindia Thapar in their book Laughing Matters (2004).

- Aaina Bhargava

‘Answer: FIVE. One to change the bulb, two to write about the PROCESS and another two to make a video’

The joke feels apropos to Asia Art Archive's latest exhibition, ‘In Our Own Backyard’, which draws from the personal archives of two prominent artist-activists: New Delhi-based Sheba Chhachhi and the late Lahore-based Lala Rukh, both of whom used photography to document women’s movements in South Asia beginning in the 1980s. Accompanying programming featured an invigorating lecture by artist Salima Hashmi – a founding member of the Pakistani organization Women’s Action Forum – who underscored the importance of humour in feminist activism and artmaking.