Canvas of life painted by women

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An artwork by Seema Kohli

From veteran to budding and established to promising, 51 contemporary female artists from the city are showcasing their works at the on-going exhibition “Vama: Showcasing the Women Artists of Delhi” organised by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi government’s cultural wing. Many amateur artists are sharing the platform with famous names from the art world like Arpana Caur, Gogi Saroj Pal and Shobha Broota.

Talking about the exhibition, Vishvamohan, Secretary, Sahitya Kala Parishad, says, “The fact that we have 51 artists under this banner shows that women artists enjoy their own space in the field of contemporary art. This exhibition will also act as an inspiration for young women who want to pursue their love for art in a big way.” The exhibition includes paintings, drawings, prints and installation while an art camp is also being held by 10 female artists.
The theme of the exhibition revolves around the objective of ‘centralising peripheries’ or bringing women artists to the centre of the discourse on art.
‘I see, I wait, I believe’ is the theme of the artwork by Shruti Chandra Gupta, it shows a man and woman looking in different directions. “Neither knows that the other exists,” says Shruti about her painting which depicts what urbanisation has done to mankind. “Both man and woman are unaware of each other’s needs and problems. This is what I have tried to focus on.”
Archana Khurana, one of the participants, says, “With March being observed as Women’s Month, this is the perfect time to have an all-women show. I believe the exhibition will sensitise people to women-related issues.”
The exhibition will be a fillip to female artists, feels participating artist Neha Grewal. “Most galleries don’t invest in women artists because of the general notion that women often get married and discontinue their artistic pursuit. Exhibitions like these are a much needed platform for upcoming female artists like me. I believe more such exhibitions and, if possible, some scholarship programs should start to promote female artists,” says Neha, who is studying Masters in Fine Arts at Jamia Millia Islamia.
Other artists who are showcasing their works are Chitra Joshi, Deepali Manglik, Seema Kohli, Kavita Jaiswal, Nisha Aggarwal and Nivedita Pandey.