Flight of Art

The works of four city artists will stand together for a cause at an all-women artists' exhibition in Delhi.

Art speaks to the viewer about the artist’s thought process. Through its form,be it a painting,a sculpture or a papier mache model,it communicates a theme,a subject,an inspiration. The ‘Wings of Freedom – 2011’ exhibition,to be held in Delhi from November 25-30 will make a statement – Eliminate crime against women. Organised by the KalaCare Group,this art show will feature the works of 25 women artists from across the country. Four artists from Pune – Bharati Pitre,Madhavi Kolte,Gauri Gandhi and Ritika Zharotia – will be a part of this united voice.

The artists received the invitation to showcase their work four months back. Says Zharotia,”The art show will be inaugurated on November 25 as it is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We all feel very strongly about this issue. We all are exhibiting one artwork and each depicts the wings of freedom.”

Zharotia is a self-taught artist originally from Delhi. She moved to Pune four years ago. Her art journey,which she attributes to her father-in-law artist Jai Zharotia,began six years back. “I do pen and ink abstract drawings on relationships and introspection,” she describes. The drawing which will be displayed at the Delhi exhibition is of a warrior woman who has taken up arms against violence. All the four participating artists know each other and share similar ideologies. “We connect well. Each has a unique style and a different medium. We are even critics of each other’s work,” says Pitre,who works with paper pulp (papier mache).

Pitre has toiled on a colourful papier mache model of a woman attacking a two-headed monster. “The monster depicts society and the violence meted out to women. The woman I have sculpted is sturdy and grounded. I have tried to show that she has to tackle the issue herself instead of waiting for someone to help,” Pitre says.

The other participating artist,Kolte has consistently used art to speak about social issues. Last year,in Pune,she organised a group show to talk about trees and their importance. She is as taken up by the issue of crime against women. “Art is one of the best mediums to talk about such subjects,” says this sculptor. She has built a sculpture using the coil technique. “It is a complex and cumbersome process but very interesting. I have sculpted a woman who is expecting a child and she has a butterfly on her shoulder,” she says.

(The exhibition will be held at Arpana Art Gallery,New Delhi from November 25-30)

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