Keerthana Kunnath - Untitled (from the series Not What You Saw)

Inkjet print on satin paper
Image size: 29,7 x 24,4 cm 
Edition of 100+3AP
Signed and numbered on a separate label

About the work
For Keerthana Kunnath's debut series Not What You Saw, Kunnath has been photographing female bodybuilders in Kerala, South India.
The images show women flexing their muscles against the backdrop of Kerala's lush landscapes, combining physical strength with a softness rarely associated with the sport. Through her work she opens up a conversation about gender, sexuality and mental health, topics that are rarely discussed openly in her homeland of India.

The project Not What You Saw began organically, when Kunnath met a handful of female bodybuilders from the region; the group later grew to more than a dozen. Spending time with them, she came to understand the full weight of their commitment: the physical demands of the sport, the emotional strain, and the financial pressure of choosing this career. Determined to build visibility and respect for these women, she got to know their friends and families, spent time with them in their homes outside the shoots, and followed them to competitions.
For Kunnath, the project is both document and provocation: a tribute to trailblazing women, and a call to rethink cultural constructs of gender and beauty. Kunnath’s visual language is striking and graceful - characterized by a rich colour pallette and the softness of a southern Indian sunset.

About the artist
Keerthana Kunnath (1995) is a London-based Indian visual artist who uses her medium to initiate conversations around socio-cultural issues. Kunnath attended the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi, which led her to image making. Continuing her studies at the London College of Fashion, she refocused on photography and the fine art aspect of image-making. Her practice interweaves analogue photography, field recordings, and printing, constructing an intricate dialogue around identity, sexuality, and womanhood through long-term introspective projects. Kunnath’s work is deeply rooted in personal and collective memories and interrogates the intersection of intimacy, queerness and community. Kunnath received a place within the shortlisted artists of the OD Photo Prize 2024.

About buying this work
This print has a small white border, not part of the image. The work will be carefully wrapped and send as an insured package. You will receive an e-mail with a Track & Trace code when the package is on its way. 
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