Fashioning identity and resistance: Shilpa Chavan's HUM (we/us).

Shilpa Chavan's short film HUM (we/us) blends fashion design, filmmaking, and social critique into a powerful artistic statement. This essay examines Chavan's innovative approach, exploring how she has collaborated to craft a visual and sonic narrative about identity, resistance, and community through a lens of postcolonial India. The analysis employs multiple theoretical frameworks, including gender theory, critical fashion practices, postcolonial studies, psychoanalysis, and sound analysis. Chavan's use of recycled materials and hybrid aesthetics creates a critical space for reimagining fashion's activist role in society, challenging dominant norms while envisioning new possibilities. The essay situates HUM (we/us) within the context of contemporary Indian and international art, drawing comparisons with works by artists such as Tejal Shah, Pushpamala N., Isaac Julien, and Zanele Muholi. It also examines the film's social and cultural impact, its critical reception, and its potential influence on future artistic practices. Through detailed analysis, HUM (we/us) emerges as a compelling example of interdisciplinary art practice sparking meaningful dialogue about complex social issues, demonstrating the power of art to challenge hegemonic narratives and imagine alternative futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]