Untitled work by Mariam Suhail, produced at the Khoj Workshop in Mumbai (2005)

In June 2005 the KHOJ International Artists’ Workshop was held in Mumbai at the Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Ltd, Vasind. Acclaimed international artists came together from Bangladesh, South Korea, Germany, Pakistan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, France, UK, Barbados and South Africa to work alongside prominent Indian artists from from Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Cochin and Kolkatta. The group worked intensively for 2 weeks activating their immediate space and pushing their practices through responding to the physical space. The following is an extract from Mariam Suhail’s artist’s statement at Khoj Mumbai (2005): “"Notebook entry: 18-06-05// Hot and sticky.// Guesthouse sign.// They say there's one spare bed in an occupied room.// The roommates are sweet and accommodating. But they constantly talk about Art and Mangoes. They also sleep a lot.// I watch TV.// Notebook entry: 19-06-05// The weather is better today.// Nice big lawn.// There are lots of people here.// They hover over me and stare.// Idiots don't realize I'm not asleep.// I've just been watching the clouds.// I stare back.// They can't tell though.// So I stare some more.// I'm trying to hypnotize them.// It's great when people can't tell what you're really up to."