Photos: Heleena theodore ‘uncensored’
By Leyya Sattar
What a weekend!
In 2018, I had the joy of working with Heleena Theodore for our first International Women's Day event. Fast-forward seven years, and we just produced her first solo exhibition, UNCENSORED over the weekend, with over 500 people visiting the show.
Since teaching herself to paint in November 2023, it inspired her to take a break from tattooing in April 2024. But photos never did her Mughal-inspired miniatures justice. You really have to see them up close. The fine detail, the precision, the love in each brushstroke. And that's exactly what we made space for.
UNCENSORED celebrated art, beauty, femininity, and personal power. It was bold and unapologetic, focusing on divine feminine sensuality and South Asian erotica. But this wasn't just an event. We helped reclaim stories, amplifying what had often been erased due to colonisation and patriarchal influences and made taboo. This event was a significant milestone in Other Box’s journey towards celebrating women's empowerment and expanding cultural narratives.
Sure, people came through and took their selfies. The space looked incredible. But even for a moment, hundreds of people would pause to really witness the work. And in a world obsessed with speed, AI, and instant gratification, that kind of stillness, of slowing down to witness something made with intention, felt quite revolutionary.
Click here to view the full album of photos from the launch
When Heleena and I spoke during quiet moments over the weekend, we reflected on the full-circle moments. From our first collaboration to now, and her growth as an artist that has been incredible to witness. She's had so much success as a tattoo artist, but this show was about more than that. It was about trusting your timing and allowing yourself to grow and evolve outside of other people’s expectations and projections of you. And that she trusted me to produce and curate this with love and care, and I don't take that lightly.
It made me acknowledge my growth over that period as a human, a businesswoman, a producer and a creative. This process reminded me to honour my own version of artistic integrity and the divine power I hold to create. To create from my truth and ignore the societal pressure just to follow trends.
During the Q+A, Heleena shared how the Lali and Lili series was created for herself first, and if it resonated with others, that was simply a bonus. That is the essence of a true artist. And it feels like something we're at risk of forgetting. For me, someone who lives in a more commercial, brand and business world, that hit me hard. It challenged me to ask: What would it look like to follow my joy, not just shiny opportunities or money? Because that's exactly what this capitalist world conditions us to chase, and I think more of us are growing tired of that.
Learning more about the Lali and Lili series also made me reflect on my work as a DEI educator and storyteller.
Lali, the two-headed red demon represents Heleena's interpretation of the divine feminine, pleasure without shame or fear. A bold reclamation. She spoke about how creating Lali illuminated parts of herself she hadn't realised had been dimmed.
Click here to view the full album of photos from the launch
Then there's Lili, inspired by her research into the Kama Sutra and how women's pleasure was so often deprioritised or erased altogether. Lili imagines what it might look like if traditional South Asian art centred on women, softness, and sensuality. Lili embodies the gentler but equally powerful expression of the divine feminine, rooted in self-honouring and softness.
Lali and Lili felt like the artistic embodiment of resistance, reclamation, and healing. As someone whose work also lives at the intersection of identity, power, and liberation, I deeply resonated with this. I believe many of you share this feeling of connection and understanding.
Heleena's work is full of love, power, detail, and even flaws. It's not polished for perfection, which makes it so striking. It reminded me that real impact often lives in what's unrefined, honest, and fully felt.
Click here to view photos from the launch
This is just the beginning for Other Box Presents. I'm so excited about what's next…for more collaborations with Heleena and other artists and creatives who deserve platforms like this to share their stories. I also want Other Box to keep creating spaces that heal, disrupt, and expand—to be a vessel for bold beauty, cultural power, and divine feminine stories—stories that deserve to be seen, felt, and honoured.
Thank you, Heleena, for trusting Other Box with your vision.
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And of course, a special shoutout to the small (but mighty!) team who helped make this a huge success:
Kavya: Thank you for being an absolute dream to work with. Someone who believes in the vision, challenges us to think bigger and brings so much heart and dedication. She worked so hard on this event and we could not have done it without her.
Adrian: Heleena’s husband whose smile and energy lights up every room. His unwavering love and support in the lead-up to the event didn’t go unnoticed. From helping with the setup on the day to welcoming guests and managing merch, he was there every step of the way, holding it all down.
Rikesh: Look at these gorgeous photos! Who else but RKZ to capture the warmth, joy, and intimate energy of the event so beautifully? Scroll down to see the full gallery and relive the magic with us.
Yaz: From helping us to set up the space to welcoming guests and managing merch, you were a steady force throughout the event.
DJ Nush: Bringing the vibes on the launch night!
Crazy Gin Co: Curating a bespoke drinks menu that was as bold and vibrant as the exhibition itself.
Bohotony: Candice, who brought Heleena’s vision to life. She is creative, collaborative, and so generous with her time and energy. Her attention to detail and ability to translate Heleena’s ideas into this floral erotic wonderland was absolutely divine.
And finally, to all of you who showed up over the weekend to celebrate Heleena, to witness her work, and to pour love into the space, you made it what it was.
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Enjoy these stunning photos captured by RKZ from the launch night. Simply right-click to save them and please tag @otherbox @HeleenaTheodore and @RKZUK when sharing.
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