Meet Rikrivu Banerjee: A Boudoir Art Photographer

Editorial Team at WallMag -

WallMag: What according to you makes boudoir art unique?

Boudoir is personalized. It caters to every body and every being. There is a certain feeling to every picture and that is Unique. Also that the fact that a person sharing their intimate space requires trust and not everyone can garner that feeling.

WallMag: For how long have you been into boudoir art?

I have been shooting nude art since I was 18 year old. So effectively 10 years now.

WallMag: What motivated you to dive into this form of art?

My own body image issues made me try out that art form to accept my own body. In an attempt to like myself and accept it, I fell in love with the vision and process of this storytelling.

WallMag: Have you experienced any changes in yourself ever since you started doing this?

I am much more aware of my own body and it's sensibilities. And everybody that I work with see themselves via my eyes which is a beautiful feeling. Putting my perspective into literal shape and structure.

WallMag: How has your journey been so far? 

Pretty challenging to be honest. I have lost two profiles on instagram because my posts challenged the policies of Instagram. But can't stop now, have to recollect and push on.

WallMag: Were people around you, who know you personally, supportive of your pursuit?

There is a weird taboo around this artform. Everything around nudity is usually correlated to sex. People think that they'll have to indulge in sexual acts for these kind of photoshoots. There were people who asked me why I want to do this and kill my career and then there were people who supported me. All in all, when told in details and explained people were more or less supporting. The fear of unknown is paramount in these circumstances.

WallMag: Have people in general been supportive of your art on the internet? If not, how do you tackle that?

So When I started there were less amount of trolls and more number of genuine admirers of my artform. As the numbers grew so did the trolling. And one thing people forget is that Social media is not the reality. If you treat it like it's your life, it will kill you. I never took the praise seriously neither did I take the disses. If any comment or anything was against my art I took it smilingly and tried to explain my art. If they were still not satisfied and continued trolling, I blocked them. As simple as it gets. But I have been very lucky to find a lot of true admirers of my artform on the internet.

WallMag: Do you feel India is ready for Boudoir art?

Yes. I feel people should be given a chance to decide if they like it or not. The censorship at the base is so high and the fact that most people usually moral police the other for loving such a natural artform is sad.

WallMag: If someone wants to reach out to you, how can they do so?

They can reach out to me on my email rikrivu726@gmail.com.

WallMag: Is there anything that you would like to add?

I hope my art helps people accept themselves for what they are and not hate their own body based on extremely fake standards of society. And that people understand that Nudity is not sexual. The blatant objectification needs to stop at once.

WallMag: What is your most favourite picture and the inspiration behind it?

This is my favorite image as of now that I have clicked because there is an uncanny poise behind this. The raw play of light is also very fascinating. Also the message of the picture, Monstrous Elegance also hits home for me that anything which would be termed monstrous by the society, I have found elegance and beauty in that form.

WallMag: What does your photography kit consist of?

I use a Canon 5D IV with a 24-70 f2.8, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8. My secondary camera is either a Canon EOS R or a Fuji XT30 depending on the need of the shoot.