At Pune art show, six women artists express themselves in a new way

“It came naturally for me to make a work that portrays an imaginary celebration after a long war. This might be a futuristic idea, but it is my belief that, one day, we will have a just world. The wings in my work symbolise the power of women to fly and the garland stands for the power of unity,” says Das, who grew up in Assam.

One of the series on exhibit ‘Celebrating the power of optimism’ illustrates artist Debasree Das’s approach to global events of violence against women. (Debasree Das)

The other artists in the exhibition are Anshu Singh, who draws attention to “artisans’ agency and labour, especially that of women belonging to Muslim working-class communities.” Aparajita Jain Mahajan highlights the need for collective human care and responsibility that can safeguard our ecological futures on the planet. Monali Meher urges viewers to “speak up about the importance of human life as we are emotionally confronted with these distresses everyday” and Mayuri Chari’s feminist practice “challenges societal norms, addressing critical issues of caste and race, alongside advocating for women’s rights over their bodies.”

Baroda-based artist Kanan Koteshwar believes that every object, including waste, has something positive to offer. She sees potential in discarded items and tries to highlight their beauty by incorporating them into their artwork. Koteshwar uses plant waste, stones, pebbles, wood logs and thread, among others, in her works. In her series, “Leftover Beauty”, she combines threads and botanical printing to sound an alarm about environmental degradation and the devastating consequences of human neglect.

“As natural disasters intensify, I seek to illuminate the interconnectedness of human existence, politics, social justice, and the natural world. This series challenges viewers to confront the fragility of our ecosystem and the beauty that persists despite human actions, inviting reflection on our responsibility to protect the planet and preserve its beauty for future generations,”  Koteshwar told The Indian Express. The exhibition will be held till October 28.