Toda, from the Series Native Women of South India 2003

"Toda," from Pushpamala N's series *Native Women of South India*, is a 2003 photographic work exploring identity and representation. The piece features a South Indian woman, draped in a traditional saree, standing in front of a stark checkerboard backdrop. The starkness of the background and the woman's posed stance evoke a sense of formality and ritual, suggesting a deliberate construction of her image. The work is a powerful exploration of how women are portrayed and perceived within cultural contexts. Pushpamala N's *Native Women of South India* series explores the representation of women in South Indian society and uses photography and performance art to question how these representations are constructed.