Everyone has their own work processes. Some work in a very
systematical, organized way, while some surround themselves with a huge mess.
Some cannot function without a strong cup of black coffee before starting their
day tasks, and get right to business, while some enjoy spending time making
nice, big breakfasts for themselves, eating it al fresco and taking their
mornings slow, enjoying every element of it. Everyone functions in their own
ways, everyone’s minds work their own ways, and everyone has a different
process of creation. I decided to document my own work process over the stretch
of one long day.
I believe that I work messy, and when I’m feeling really
inspired and motivated to do and create, my room becomes a chaotic, haphazard
jungle of clothes, makeup and miscellaneous items, sprawled over my desk, bed
and floor. I tend to panic and stress at random times, then get wound up by
excitement of what I’m doing, especially if it is taking themed pictures-I can
act quite bipolar at times. To set the mood I always have to either have one
song up on repeat, or I have to make a special playlist to go with the mood I’m
‘feeling’. These days I am reverting back to my old, eight grade rock
playlists-I feel nostalgic, and I feel comforted by the familiarity of the
bass, the guitar riffs and the bold vocals. On this particular day I was
listening to ‘Hospital for souls’ by Bring Me The Horizon, on repeat. The music
kind of blended and faded into the background by the time the song repeated
itself for the fourth. I felt like angsty Mana, slightly rebellious Mana, bold
and creative Mana.
All these pictures are a part of ‘#babethrone’-they show a
young woman who is creating something working at her desk, the different
positions she acquires, the messes that she makes, the change in facial
expressions as she thinks, reads and writes. I decided to document these
pictures what I would like to call my ‘standard babe working uniform’, black
sweats, a black tank, black glasses, black everything but dark red or burgundy
lips. I feel very ‘Dauntless’ in my babe uniform, and it makes me feel very
powerful especially the lipstick, but all of us here now what benefits are
reaped of a good lipstick. Maybe sometimes my babe uniform will change ever so
slightly. Maybe I might wear a dark, vampy, purple lippy, or go for a nice
bright pink. Maybe one day while feeling extra babe-ly and professional, I
might wear an elongating pair of black cigarette pants, and some strappy
heels(once I learn to walk properly in them and don’t like a tower that is
tottering about, ready to just collapse). Oh, the power of a babe uniform.
The pictures are of bad quality and grainy on purpose. They
are also all in black and white on purpose. This is because I wanted to give
them this gritty, brooding vibe, that would be achieved by the feel of
backstage at a rock show. Dark details, fuzzy captures, terrible messes, just
minus the musicians drinking and doing drugs.
I took all these pictures at various times of the day-at
times I would even stop for a good old selfie during a work break. I was
good and I was productive-I was messy and I was innovative. And the mess
hardly bothers me when I know it was created by a beautiful stream of thoughts
and idea trials, ideas and perspective- a beautiful mess that follows a
beautiful work process.
#babethrone is a series started by Maham Insha, in which she
collects documentations by innovative women who create and inspire; of their
work spaces- the places where their magical work processes swing into action
and from where they move towards conquering the world. If you would like to
contribute your magical workspaces to help grow this series, shoot an email at
mana.insha@gmail.com.
