Truth Dream: A spotlight on notions of beauty, aging and self-acceptance

The recently concluded Truth Dream exhibition by Bengaluru-based Maara celebrates friendship as much as it challenges the accepted norms of society

From characters in childhood adventure stories to glamorous stars on the silver screen as adults — most people have aspired to be a figment of their own imagination.

Truth Dream is an exhibition that captured the fantasies of a few members of the transgender community and immortalised them in photographs. The project was conceptualised by Chandni, co-founder of Payana, a Bengaluru-based NGO that works towards protecting sexual minorities.

“About two months ago, Chandni approached us with this idea of working on a project with 12 of her friends who identified as transwomen, transmen, and other gender non-conforming individuals. They were all around 50 years old — a rarity within the community considering the hardships they undergo. Chandni wanted to give them a chance to step into their dream personas and she was very clear it had to be a photoshoot,” says the curator of Truth Dream, Angarika G from Maara, a media and arts organisation in Bengaluru.