14 tempting works by an artist from India on how an Indian pin-up looks

Most often, ideas about the life of an Indian woman are formed thanks to Indian films, where smiling beauties dance and sing in bright dresses in front of enthusiastic men. However, their real life is completely different from the masterpieces of Bollywood, and there is a huge gap between South Asia, Europe and America. In these cultures, women are treated very differently, and Indian women are even forbidden to look directly into the eyes during a conversation. The reason for this is the deep patriarchal roots that were strengthened centuries ago and are clearly reflected in Indian mythology: an Indian woman is truly faithful and must be ready to sacrifice herself for her husband. For a long time, the monstrous sati tradition was practiced here, when a living wife lay in a funeral pyre with her prematurely deceased spouse.

So an Indian woman should be humble, faithful, honor her husband, and naturally there should be no hint of sexuality. However, this theory is gradually becoming a thing of the past, and today Indian women receive much more freedom than a couple of decades ago. It is about this project of the Indian artist Nimisha Bhanot, who captured the usual Indian housewives in the most incredible way for this culture: in the style of pin-up.

Nimisha came up with this series several years ago when she studied at an art school. When they painted from nature, the artist was amazed at how differently the model girls behaved: they looked straight, not taking their eyes off, were confident in their beauty and sexuality. So Badass Desi Pinups was born, which seems to release the passion and sexuality of girls and completely opposes the established image of an Indian woman in society.