Jasmeen Patheja

Jasmeen Patheja is an artist based in Bangalore, India. She is a TED and Ashoka ​Fellow. Her project Talk To Me (Blank Noise) was awarded the International Award For Public Art in 2015.  CNN IBN awarded Patheja towards her contribution in Citizen Journalism. Patheja has exhibited at Bronx Museum Of Arts, Tasveer , Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, Goethe Institute (Bangalore). Her work has been featured in mainstream media, enabling ‘Action Hero’ outreach and connection. Media mentions and features include CNN-IBN, BBC,  The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Hindu, Salon, Elle,Vogue, India Today, Harpers Bazaar.

 

Patheja founded Blank Noise in 2003, a citizen / “Action Hero” led by community arts collective. Projects range across forms of media and communities (performance, videos, live action, t-shirts, installation, murals, posters) and are focused towards bringing attitudinal shifts. She mobilizes a community of “Action Heroes” to eradicate sexual and gender based violence. Action Heroes are individuals from across India and globally who commit building safe spaces.

 

About Blank Noise

http://dmlcentral.net/blog/liz-losh/human-rights-and-social-media-india-blank-noise

 

Select past projects and campaigns:

 

Talk To Me : Brings ‘Action Heroes’ to a conversation with a complete stranger over tea and samosa. The conversations last an hour and address dealing with fear, building empathy.

http://www.citylab.com/commute/2013/07/can-couple-tables-make-bangalores-rapist-lane-safe-again/6094/

 

Safe City Pledge : Every individual or citizen has the ability and power to build a safe space. #SafeCityPledge was initiated days after the Delhi Gang Rape, urging citizens to take collective ownership of sexual violence.

Atlantic Global Voices

 

Meet To Sleep : Action Heroes take a nap in their city park. They initiate a conversation about trust, and explore the language of fear, as that which is taught, learnt, inherited. Ongoing.

 

Hahaha Sangha: Mobilizes women in the neighbourhood to occupy position as ‘Action Heroes’ and laugh out loud. The Hahaha Sangha is a safe space for an intergenerational group of women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mAp93ptyFw