Pune artist Oak turns perspectives on women into interactive display of thoughts

Oak is a veteran of hard-hitting artistic creativity. Her previous works include Flow of Death, which she made on the Gujarat riots and for which she won the National Academy Award in 2002.

4 min readUpdated: Mar 4, 2026 07:18 PM IST

Oak is a veteran of hard-hitting artistic creativity. (Vida Heydari Contemporary/YouTube)

On one ribbon is scrawled the word “multitasker”; another has the word “stunning”. Somebody has written ‘Progressive”; somebody else puts in “Sensitive”. These are among the bunches of ribbons that Vaishali Oak, a Pune artist best known for her work with textiles, is sifting through less than 48 hours before her new installation is unveiled.

Oak is a veteran of hard-hitting artistic creativity. Her previous works include Flow of Death, which she made on the Gujarat riots and for which she won the National Academy Award in 2002. She is a winner of the Outstanding Art Award at the China Fiber Art Biennial in 2016. She has been a presence at prestigious venues, such as Kochi-Muziris Biennale and the India Art Fair and biennale and triennial in countries, from the UK and the US to Ukraine and Latvia.

In her latest work, the ribbons carry responses to a single question asked by Oak: “What is the one word to describe the most important woman in your life?” The results will be presented as part of “Voices & Threads”, an interactive artistic project organised by the Alliance Française de Pune (AFD)to mark International Women’s Day.

“It appears that once a year, we say it’s International Women’s Day and spare a thought for women. But, what are we really doing for women? Are we really thinking about them? Isn’t every day a celebration of womanhood?” says Oak.

“From the middle of February, we have been sending out these ribbons to corporate offices, schools, higher institutions of education and other partners associated with AFD. The intent to that people would pause to think about a women in their life, and try to decide who was the most important woman in their life and why,” says Oak.

The idea was firmed during a conversation between Oak and AFD Director Amélie Weigel. Till now, 1,000 responses have come in.

“I wanted to know the aspects of womanhood and what we think about when we want to thank an important person in our lives. As part of this artwork, we will think of this woman, her good qualities and her talents. Obviously, women are always on the giving side. So, the project has the metaphor of a river. I myself thought of my mother and her kindness, her love,” says Oak.

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Sure, some of the responses are of single words but there are many ribbons where more were needed to express emotions. There are ribbons with words like “Most Progressive” and “Most lovely”.

“We decided that we would begin the showcase of the installation on March 6 and end it on March 8, so that more people can participate,” adds Oak. The event will take place at The Box Too and visitors will be asked to add their one-word tributes to a woman. Oak is getting ready at least 30 mannequins that will be draped with the ribbons, so that the words are visible to the visitors.

“I visualised the installation as a group of mannequins, similar to those used in fashion shops. Thus, we have a woman’s form that is dressed in a long gown-like garment, over which, there will be strips added describing thousands of women out there,” says Oak.

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She adds that she did not want the installation to be confined to a circle of privilege that pays an annual lip service to International Women’s Day. Oak went to various places and conducted workshops with women. Among these was Seva Sahayog Foundation, which works with underprivileged women. “I went and asked them if I could work with them. Twelve women collaborated with me. We made a fabric collage together,” she says. This artwork will also be showcased at the exhibition.

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To these women also, Oak asked a question. “When did you first realize that you are a girl and not a boy?” As the women shared their stories, Oak recorded. These will be played at the exhibition, which also includes a block-printing workshop by one of the women of Seva Sahayog Foundation. The range of women being represented include 12 Kathak dancers and a few painters.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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