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They/He
All projects are at various stages of development, and I'm actively seeking grants, funds, and collaborators. If any project interests you or if you'd like more information, feel free to reach out at varshapanikar@gmail.com.
All information on this website, including creative ideas, is confidential and proprietary to Varsha Panikar & Star Hopper. It is shared solely for exploring business opportunities and does not grant any rights to the recipient. Any use beyond this purpose requires prior written consent, and due acknowledgments must be given for any derived benefit.
Origami Folds
An ongoing exploration by Varsha Panikar that employs dreams, memories, archive and interviews juxtaposed with the curves and folds of human body, and uses it as a medium and metaphor for hopeless fragility and hardened impenetrability, from which emerges the themes of identity, dysphoria, commodification of the body, and denial and loss of autonomy as conditions of globalized society and cultures, through the lens of south-Asian, queer and marginalized bodies.
Parts from the ongoing series have appeared and been published in various zines, platforms and exhibitions.
Parts from the ongoing series have appeared and been published in various zines, platforms and exhibitions.
A-Ra Chronicles (NFT Collection)
Inspired by Pokémon cards, I, along with my collaborators introduced ARA Chronicles collectible cards in the NFT world. A-Ra collectible cards, feature A-Ra in many unique forms, inspired by rich heritage of Indian oral tradition, folklore, and myths.
Each card offers a journey into the cultural heritage, etymology, the rich stories, and research behind these enchanting forms, made accessible on our website linked to the NFTs. This approach ensures the relevance of these stories for future generations, within the NFT market and beyond.
Winner of Chain Unchained: Mintathon grant from the Goethe Institute (Mumbai) and Be Fantastic. Showcased at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2024 in Coomarawamy Hall.
Collaborator(s): Varsha Panikar, Letitia Mendes, Asawari Jagushte
Each card offers a journey into the cultural heritage, etymology, the rich stories, and research behind these enchanting forms, made accessible on our website linked to the NFTs. This approach ensures the relevance of these stories for future generations, within the NFT market and beyond.
Winner of Chain Unchained: Mintathon grant from the Goethe Institute (Mumbai) and Be Fantastic. Showcased at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2024 in Coomarawamy Hall.
Collaborator(s): Varsha Panikar, Letitia Mendes, Asawari Jagushte
My Body Is A Prison - Zine
A zine by Varsha Panikar from their ongoing mixed-media series, Origami Folds, that employs dreams, memories, archive and photography to explore the human body, and uses it as a medium and metaphor for hopeless fragility and hardened impenetrability, from which emerges the themes of identity, dysphoria, commodification of the body, and denial and loss of autonomy as conditions of globalized society and cultures, through the lens of south-Asian, queer and marginalized bodies.
Trigger Warning : This piece deals with depression, anxiety, and body dysphoria.
My Body Is A Prison, a zine from the same series is available on Amazon Kindle and has been curated by Zine Club Chicago, New Paltz NYC Sojourner Truth Library and Grrrl Zine Fair.
Excerpts from the same series have also appeared in Marketplace Zine - 'Skin' and 'Lines' by Forbidden Verses; the 6th edition of Zine by The Rights Collective and South Asian Sisters Speak (SASS), titled 'Brown Bodies, the 5th edition of Nerve Zine, titled 'Self', and a queer poetry anthology by One Future Collective, titled 'Raza'.
Mail me to get a copy.
Trigger Warning : This piece deals with depression, anxiety, and body dysphoria.
My Body Is A Prison, a zine from the same series is available on Amazon Kindle and has been curated by Zine Club Chicago, New Paltz NYC Sojourner Truth Library and Grrrl Zine Fair.
Excerpts from the same series have also appeared in Marketplace Zine - 'Skin' and 'Lines' by Forbidden Verses; the 6th edition of Zine by The Rights Collective and South Asian Sisters Speak (SASS), titled 'Brown Bodies, the 5th edition of Nerve Zine, titled 'Self', and a queer poetry anthology by One Future Collective, titled 'Raza'.
Mail me to get a copy.
Letters To Luna.png
Step into the intimate world of Alex through this heartfelt anthology, "Letters to Luna," a collection of letters whispered to Luna.
These are expressions of love and pain, lonely nights spent in vain; the dreams, the nightmares, the longings and the despairs. In this collection, Alex bares their soul to the moon, sharing moments of vulnerability and reflection.
The zine captures the raw beauty of expressing one's heart to the silent night sky, where Luna becomes a compassionate witness to the human experience.
These letters, once solitary thoughts, are now immortalised in this anthology—a testament to the universal themes of human emotion that resonate in the quiet glow of the moon.
Mail me to order a copy now.
These are expressions of love and pain, lonely nights spent in vain; the dreams, the nightmares, the longings and the despairs. In this collection, Alex bares their soul to the moon, sharing moments of vulnerability and reflection.
The zine captures the raw beauty of expressing one's heart to the silent night sky, where Luna becomes a compassionate witness to the human experience.
These letters, once solitary thoughts, are now immortalised in this anthology—a testament to the universal themes of human emotion that resonate in the quiet glow of the moon.
Mail me to order a copy now.
Whisperings To My Shadows
A Photo Poetry Zine where I explore the dual nature and the potential darkness of mental health, in hopes of building understanding and starting conversations around mental health. The series examines themes of darkness and light, acceptance, and the endless quest for truth and authenticity by using poetry that stems from memories and dreams.
First showcased at Queer Future Archive Installation - March 2020. An Afterpartycollective Installation showcased at Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney, supported by Parra Artist Studio.
Mail me to order a copy now.
First showcased at Queer Future Archive Installation - March 2020. An Afterpartycollective Installation showcased at Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney, supported by Parra Artist Studio.
Mail me to order a copy now.
Everywhere I Go I See Lines
A photo-poetry zine from my anthology, At The End Of The Line. This zine explores the invisible boundaries and rules we construct in our lives—those we follow, defy, or are imposed upon us. Through poetic narrative, I delve into the complexities of existence, choice, and personal agency in a world framed by these lines.
Mail me to order a copy now.
Mail me to order a copy now.
The Diary Of Alex Nobody
Embark on a riveting journey through the oppressive landscape of Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four in this fan-fiction zine series. The narrative unfolds from the perspective of Alex Nobody, a newly imagined queer character grappling with the harsh realities of a totalitarian world governed by relentless propaganda, pervasive surveillance, and stifling censorship.
Within this dystopian realm, Alex, a subjugated worker, remains invisible even within Orwell's narrative, navigating the strict binary, heteronormative, and gender norms enforced by The Party. This intimate diary entry, narrated by Alex, provides a unique vantage point on the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four. Julia, a character from Orwell's original novel, takes on new dimensions as we witness the unfolding of Alex Nobody's story.
As the series unfolds, each entry in the zine becomes a testament to the resilience of those who defy societal constraints. Step into the clandestine world of Alex Nobody, where the diary entries unveil hidden narratives of resistance, identity, and a poignant struggle against the control imposed by The Party.
Mail me to order a copy now.
Within this dystopian realm, Alex, a subjugated worker, remains invisible even within Orwell's narrative, navigating the strict binary, heteronormative, and gender norms enforced by The Party. This intimate diary entry, narrated by Alex, provides a unique vantage point on the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four. Julia, a character from Orwell's original novel, takes on new dimensions as we witness the unfolding of Alex Nobody's story.
As the series unfolds, each entry in the zine becomes a testament to the resilience of those who defy societal constraints. Step into the clandestine world of Alex Nobody, where the diary entries unveil hidden narratives of resistance, identity, and a poignant struggle against the control imposed by The Party.
Mail me to order a copy now.
A-Ra Chronicles
'A-Ra Chronicles' is a heartwarming children's fantasy graphic series that celebrates every child for who they are.
Through engaging storytelling and illustrations, each book takes readers on transformative journeys alongside a shape-shifting being named A-Ra, who serves as a guardian and protector.
Set in a world where magic meets reality, these stories provide a nurturing space for children to explore their identities and express their feelings without fear.
Suitable for children and adults aged 8 and above, this series not only entertains but also enlightens, empowering its readers (children and adults alike) to embrace themselves and others.
In Development
Through engaging storytelling and illustrations, each book takes readers on transformative journeys alongside a shape-shifting being named A-Ra, who serves as a guardian and protector.
Set in a world where magic meets reality, these stories provide a nurturing space for children to explore their identities and express their feelings without fear.
Suitable for children and adults aged 8 and above, this series not only entertains but also enlightens, empowering its readers (children and adults alike) to embrace themselves and others.
In Development
'The Timeless Charm of a Chance Encounter
Returning to the themes of chance encounters, surreal connections, and serendipity, 'The Timeless Charm of a Chance Encounter' is a mixed-media series exploring the fleeting, but sometimes, memorable moments shared with total strangers.
When Home Won't Let You Stay
A photo essay on migrant porters of Shimla, popularly called 'Khans'.
End Of The Line
An anthology of poems and prose written during the lockdown of 2020, intended as a catharsis to cope with uncertainties, ambiguities, depression and grief. A collection of emotions, thoughts and memories that needed a place to rest outside the world of grey matter. An attempt to verbalise the shattered mirror through which we occasionally catch glimpses of our world; one that reminds us of the inescapable end and the irrevocable frailty of life. A life that is not just flowery words of love and pain, but a deep cavern that has reached the end of time and continues until there is no more sun in the sky, no more water to crash on the shores, no more air to breathe but only release... from what we know or understand of this world. A sentiment - all too familiar for those that survived, or are struggling to rise from the depths of the hopeless despair.
Down The Family Tree
Part memoir, part biographical, part soliloquy, 'Down The Family Tree' reflects upon identity and loss that arises from grief, told through the medium of family photographs, recordings, archives, paintings, and memories.
Dream Diary
The genesis of the 'Dream Diary' dates back to my 16-year-old self, grappling with the relentless companionship of sleeplessness. Amidst the shadows of insomnia, whenever elusive slumber embraced me, it birthed a menagerie of vivid and lucid dreams. Each night was a canvas, painted with fantastical, surreal, recurring, and at times, morbidly terrifying scenes - a nocturnal landscape both captivating and unsettling.
Driven by the fear of these ephemeral visions slipping away, I started penning them down. A motley collection of dreams, some worth cherishing, others best left in the recesses of the subconscious. Fast forward more than a decade, and in the past year, I made the decision to weave these nocturnal fragments into a cohesive series. A symphony of poems, prose, and stories, each drawn from the memories of these dreams that have been my haunting companions.
This compilation is more than just ink on paper; it's a reflection of the dreams that have not only haunted me but also served as a wellspring of inspiration and comfort. Intrigued, obsessed, and compelled by this strange and bizarre dream world, I invite you to delve into the 'Dream Diary.' This excerpt is a glimpse into the series, featured in the 'Dream Issue,' a digital zine curated by The Local Colour Zine.
Driven by the fear of these ephemeral visions slipping away, I started penning them down. A motley collection of dreams, some worth cherishing, others best left in the recesses of the subconscious. Fast forward more than a decade, and in the past year, I made the decision to weave these nocturnal fragments into a cohesive series. A symphony of poems, prose, and stories, each drawn from the memories of these dreams that have been my haunting companions.
This compilation is more than just ink on paper; it's a reflection of the dreams that have not only haunted me but also served as a wellspring of inspiration and comfort. Intrigued, obsessed, and compelled by this strange and bizarre dream world, I invite you to delve into the 'Dream Diary.' This excerpt is a glimpse into the series, featured in the 'Dream Issue,' a digital zine curated by The Local Colour Zine.
Forest Dreams
A gothic and mystical graphic novel about the journey of a young girl into a magical and ancient forest, inspired by fables, folklore, fairy-tales, myths, and dreams from south-India.
Seeking writers, graphic designers and visual artists to collaborate on the book.
Seeking writers, graphic designers and visual artists to collaborate on the book.
Bodies Of Desire
"Bodies Of Desire" is an ongoing anthology weaving together stories, memories, and epiphanies through prose, poetry, and multimedia expressions.
This series explores queer intimacy and desire as powerful tools for self-expression and a deeper understanding of identity, empathy, and queer love and kinship.
Excerpts from the series are featured in "Love Portions," an issue of Rogue by Ratio Auream Publishers, available on Amazon & Kindle. The artwork has been showcased at the "Queer Futures Archive" exhibition at Parramatta's Riverside Theater, Sydney, as part of the "Burn All The Books That Call You The Unknown" exhibit in 2020.
An audio-story from the series is published on Lonely Heart Club, created by Anuja Ghosalkar, for gender-positive & queer audio-erotica. "Bodies Of Desire" has also been adapted into an award-winning Poetryfilm, currently streaming on Nowness Asia, Nowness, and GirlsInFilms.
We're currently seeking graphic designers and visual artists to collaborate on the book. Join us in shaping "Bodies Of Desire" visually, a celebration of storytelling that transcends boundaries.
This series explores queer intimacy and desire as powerful tools for self-expression and a deeper understanding of identity, empathy, and queer love and kinship.
Excerpts from the series are featured in "Love Portions," an issue of Rogue by Ratio Auream Publishers, available on Amazon & Kindle. The artwork has been showcased at the "Queer Futures Archive" exhibition at Parramatta's Riverside Theater, Sydney, as part of the "Burn All The Books That Call You The Unknown" exhibit in 2020.
An audio-story from the series is published on Lonely Heart Club, created by Anuja Ghosalkar, for gender-positive & queer audio-erotica. "Bodies Of Desire" has also been adapted into an award-winning Poetryfilm, currently streaming on Nowness Asia, Nowness, and GirlsInFilms.
We're currently seeking graphic designers and visual artists to collaborate on the book. Join us in shaping "Bodies Of Desire" visually, a celebration of storytelling that transcends boundaries.
Labels, In A Not-So-Perfect World
An essay on their experiences with labels with respect to the discourse around gender, identity and self expression for The Lipstick Politico.
Artwork by Sushant Khomz
Artwork by Sushant Khomz
City On Wheels
"City On Wheels" is a self-portrait set against the bustling backdrop of Bombay, seeking to evoke poetic contemplation on the life of a forlorn poet - bereft and terrorised by existence.
Undress /ʌnˈdrɛs/
verb [no object]
take off one's clothes
noun [mass noun]
the state of being naked or only partially clothed
Can one truly undress their soul to someone, in a given moment? Till the end of eternity, clad themselves in nothing but the soul's nudity?
A zine.
take off one's clothes
noun [mass noun]
the state of being naked or only partially clothed
Can one truly undress their soul to someone, in a given moment? Till the end of eternity, clad themselves in nothing but the soul's nudity?
A zine.
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