So there we have it. For once, there’s been an odd benefit to the episodes of insomnia that I suffer from occasionally.
I know without a doubt that I shouldn’t be using my phone at night. Yet, after trying to read something relaxing, meditating, the whole shebang, it was 3am and I still couldn’t drop off.
But rather than waiting for sheer exhaustion to send me to sleep, a random scroll through Instagram sent my heart rate soaring as soon as I saw that Babbu the Painter was coming to Birmingham!
And yes, I said Birmingham, not London.
Sadly, cool and creative events in Birmingham are still too far and few between. However, this was one of those glorious moments when everything came together.
- I didn’t have any family commitments.
- I didn’t have any work commitments.
- It was during the day – ah the typical brown girl problem of having strict parents who freak if the sun goes down and you’re *gasp* outside.
- I knew where I was going. This meant that I wouldn’t be terrified of getting lost and therefore getting into trouble with said parents.
Although, best of all, it was f r e e.
Ultimately, this led to a frantic 4am WhatsApp message to my DESIblitz colleague, Arub. Quickly, we made the plan to spend yet another weekend together.
Love you really girl.
Anyway, Saturday 19th May arrives and there we are in Grand Central. The sun is shining, the people are literally singing with the Royal Wedding and we’re off on a bus to Moseley.
There I fell in love at first sight.
The venue, the bar and restaurant Zindiya, is a dream. Cosy but comfortable, it had exposed brick walls alongside graffiti-covered steel. Under glittering fairy lights, shades of gorgeous teals, hot pink and vivid mustard complemented quirky patterns and cut-outs of old Indian posters.
Heck, even the toilet was nice and so clean that you could Instagram it!
The lovely Amrit of Amaretto’s World then greeted us. Of course, the event was running a little late – as she put it, standard Brown People Timing (BPT).
I don’t think anyone minded in the slightest, however. After seeing an amazing soft pink concoction complete with rose petals and glittery gold straw accompanying our hostess, Amrit, I had to get one.
The drink, ‘Green and Saffron’ is “exclusively designed for Zindiya”. It brings together “fragrant spices with delicate florals”.
The food looked equally delicious. Since Arub was fasting for Ramadan, I know we’ll be back soon to sample Zindiya’s culinary delights.
Of course, the main star of the show was Babbu. In a Q&A led by Amrit, she talked about her work and her position as one of the first big faces of the new wave of South Asian creatives.
It was fascinating to hear how she stays true to her own values as an artist when it working with big brands or even as a private person in a world dominated by social media.
I think we can all relate to her differentiating between leaving the house as any other girl and then leaving as ‘Babbu the Painter’.
As Beyoncé popularised with ‘Sasha Fierce’, so many of us call on a stronger, more confident inner self to navigate the challenges of life.
It was really heartwarming to hear how supportive her family was and how they keep her down to earth. Yet, I couldn’t help but laugh at her desire to have those moments when they understand her work and the effect it has.
You know, the times when parents actually call the relatives to boast that “my daughter is doing this, she met this person…” rather than “what’s this bakwaas you’re up to?”
Indeed, for Babbu’s Bakwaas in Birmingham, there was such a lovely conversational feel to the Q&A session. The following pop-up shop only added to this since there was the opportunity for attendees to mingle.
I met so many inspiring women (and the one guy) including two of the talented Malik sisters, Natasha and Afsheen, communications queen Roshni Natali and fellow writer/Bollywood aficionado, Jasneet Kaur.
Otherwise, it was an amazing chance to see Babbu’s work in person. After all, one day I will have one of her jackets.
But there’s something special about seeing the details of an artwork in real life. To pour over the brushstrokes or the graduation in shade.
It’s something that no photo can replicate…as much as I try!
Finally, meeting an artist is a treat in itself, especially when they’re as friendly as Babbu and their work is so important.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who was inspired to see a Desi artist making such stunning work, which was so unique in positively representing South Asian culture at the time.
As was discussed, Bollywood sometimes has a cheese factor that makes it almost embarrassing.
I think Babbu’s work is so important in making you feel unapologetic about yourself.
Whether it’s your style, your interests, your background, your feminist values.
Maybe it was just me but I think all attendees went away that day as their own versions of ‘Babbu the Painter’ or ‘Sasha Fierce’ – striding into the sunshine proud, unapologetic and ready to “do it for the culture”.
In fact, judging by the talent in that room, maybe we’ll be seeing some of those other gifted women with their own Q&As someday soon, inspiring people just like Babbu.
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