Women in Film & Photography 2025 Exhibition
दहेज [pr.{dahej}] – Dowry | VRIDHI GULATI

Dahej reflects on the institution of marriage as a complex machine — one composed of traditions that women have carried for generations, often without question. These customs shape women’s lives and bodies in ways often left unexamined.

Though transformed in form over time, these traditions continue to exert influence. As women today, it is essential to question the foundations and systems that uphold these practices, instead of accepting them passively.

Dahej challenges these masked traditions through a looped performance video projected onto a black saree. Black, a color frequently associated with bad omen, becomes a powerful canvas where I peel away and undo the objectification imposed on the female body. The gold adhered to my form both symbolizes and reveals how women are engulfed by these customs — weighed down, constrained, and transformed by expectations that are both physical and metaphorical.

What do we truly carry? And what might we choose to shed?

About Vridhi Gulati
Vridhi Gulati (b. 2002) is an Indian interdisciplinary fine artist based in Singapore. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fine Art from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, validated by the University of the Arts London (UAL).

Her practice involves experimenting with diverse mediums to craft immersive installation works. Deeply connected to her heritage, Vridhi’s research explores narratives surrounding traditions and the inheritance of both tangible and intangible heirlooms. As her practice evolves, she aspires to become an art educator, fostering learning environments where knowledge and creativity extend beyond her own pursuits.

Vridhi received the Degree Scholarship Award for AY24/25 and has participated in exhibitions such as London NAFA X UAL 2024, Performative Practices Lab 2025 for Singapore Art Week, and the NAFA Open House 2025. She was also selected as the student moderator for the Southeast Asian Art Clinic XI in 2024. Additionally, she is the Founding President of Kalakriti, the first Indian Society CCA established at NAFA, serving from 2023 to 2025.

For the rest of our Women in Film and Photography 2025 programme, visit here.