kulsum ebrahim: desi pov
artist info & virtual world themes
kulsum ebrahim (she/her) is a visual artist working in animation and film based between Karachi and London. She is interested in cities, health, mobility, and ecology and believes in the revolutionary potential of animation. She graduated with an MA in Animation from the Royal College of Art in 2023.
The virtual world invites encounters with Ebrahim’s explorations of Desi cultures/experiences, comprehensive sex education, subversive animation, public health access/equity, mutual aid, birthworkers, and the climate crisis in coastal communities surrounding Karachi.
how to explore the virtual worlds:
Currently, the virtual worlds are most compatible with Chrome and Firefox browsers (the interactive elements may not work with Safari). The worlds are also only compatible with desktop/laptop devices currently.
Navigate the environments using the W, A, S, D keys (to move forward, left, back, and right, respectively). Use the mouse to turn and look around/up and down (like the navigation of a PC game).
Press the escape key to move your mouse outside
of the environment window.
Each virtual world contains audio elements.
To activate the artist audio stories and caption videos, “walk” up to the pink exhibition icons, and the audio/visual content will begin.
You can pause the interactive content by moving away from the area, then return and resume.
participatory prompts
What kinds of sex ed or reproductive care would be most relevant to you and/or the communities you belong to?
Are there currently barriers to accessing these kinds of resources or care? What are those barriers and where do they come from?Which communities are most impacted by environmental disasters? What are the impacts and how do the impacts relate to healthcare, especially reproductive care?
Research midwife-lead/activist organizations in your area that focus on reproductive care. Share what you learned on the exhibition Discord or with a friend.
recommended readings & resources
Chandra T. Mohanty, Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity (2003)
Ismat Chughtai, Of Fists and Rubs (1967)
Sadi Khatri, Promise Me, O Women (2023)
Diaa Hadid, The fearless midwives of Pakistan: In the face of floods, they do not give up, NPR (2022)
Guttmacher Institute, A Definition of Comprehensive Sexuality Education
