Sahitya Kala Parishad’s Vama: Empowering Women Artists with Fresh Takes on Culture and Identity

New Delhi, December 16, 2024: Sahitya Kala Parishad, Government of NCT, Delhi, unveiled Vama: Showcasing Women Artists from Delhi, an eight-day art exhibition that spotlights 20 eminent women artists from Delhi. The ongoing art exhibition, at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam from December 14th to 21st, 2024, is curated to empower and showcase the artistic brilliance of women.

Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj, Hon’ble Minister of Art, Culture & Languages, praised the artists and said, “Delhi has always been a hub of artistic expression, and this initiative is a testament to our commitment to promoting and celebrating the immense talent of women artists. ‘Vama’ is not just an exhibition but a platform for recognizing and empowering women who enrich our cultural heritage through their creativity”

The audience will get to witness diverse art forms offering a rich variety of perspectives and mediums at The Vama: Showcasing Women Artists from Delhi. Some of the artists and their artwork that are featured here are Nilanjana Nandy’s This Side-That Side, a diptych, explores alienation and division through grid spaces. Talking about the artwork, Nilanjana mentioned that it was started at the end of 2021 and culminated in 2023. Angelica Basak is presenting her Breathe series which are made of ceramic sculptures and symbolizes the balance between chaos and tranquility. Rashmi Khurana’s mixed-media work combines paper mache and acrylic to express unique creative techniques.

While presenting her Mayura Series which is an acrylic on canvas, artist Shampa Sircar explained that her work celebrates life’s interconnectedness, with the peacock symbolizing glory and the lotus representing spiritual growth. Another unique art to look for is Aditi Aggarwal’s diptych Dream 6 and 7 reflects on memory, identity, and uncertainty, using the Gum Bichromate process. Talking about the art, Aditi said that the artwork captures her within an unfinished studio at Kaladham, surrounded by surreal and dystopian elements. One panel portrays her beneath a granite-like sun, while the other features two suns casting an unsettling glow. Holding her late father’s camera stand—a symbol of memory and connection—Aditi navigates themes of identity, change, and uncertainty. Audiences will also get to immerse in Durga Kainthola’s Travelogue Diaries that blends traditional and contemporary elements, exploring themes of identity, trauma, and global interconnectedness.

While briefly explaining her photography, Rashmi Choudhary shared insights into her works that are a blend of storytelling and visual art that captures profound themes. Goonj reflects the intertwined frequencies of grief and hope, channeling forgotten voices seeking to be heard, with a flash of color symbolizing the dawn of optimism breaking through the darkness. Meanwhile, Anant depicts a historic corridor with timeless charm, evoking the vastness of the cosmos and the infinite layers of life. Together, the works symbolize an ongoing journey, both inward and outward, exploring resilience, meaning, and boundless possibilities. Another artist, Kavita Nayar’s Transcending explores the human spirit in oil pastels while artist Richa Navani’s art spans multiple mediums, addressing themes like gender politics, sexuality, and ecology, with geometric abstract symbols inspired by nature and rituals.

While showcasing her art, Pratibha Singh said, “I grew up near the Banaras Ghats, which greatly influenced my artistic vision. My works, including series like Shape of Things to Come and Transformer, explore the connections between humans, machines, and animals. My current series, Terraform, reflects on humanity seeking alternative habitats, using mixed media like paper pulp and coir fibers.” Artist Dipa Potwray’s work, blending silk and cotton, draws on childhood memories and Assamese tradition, while Vandana Kumari’s photography captures the resilience and beauty of rural life and migrant stories.

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