“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”
— Golda Meir
Heart to Art, a unique art show opened to the public on March 1 to commemorate International Women’s Day. The art event involved conversations with 12 women artists, prolific with their distinctive styles. The artists showcasing are Aditi Hazra, Bharti Sagar, Girija H, Hilary Robinson, Nita Kembhavi, sculptor Romicon Revola, actor and painter Samyukta Hornad, Shan Re, Shirley Mathew, Shraddha Rathi and Sujata Sah Sejekan.
With versatile and distinctive oeuvres, the artists have come together to celebrate the greatest creation of nature, “woman.” An artist’s journey navigates a meandering road. The artists stop not simply to enjoy the scenery but also to look at the minutest points of interest of the foliage.
They not only notice the coffee but watch the wispy patterns and contours of steam. They look strongly into profundities where mere mortals see just the surface. Such are the mysterious workings of an aesthetic and artistic mind. Add to this blend, the sensibilities of a woman, and you see a radical new movement and a whole new perspective.
This even also explores the dimensions of art — Madhu Nataraj, a dancer, Sudha Belawadi, an actor and Sandhya Mendonca, an author will be in conversation with visual artists, getting up close and personal with the workings of their minds and subconscious.
The artworks are an eclectic mix of contemporary paintings and print makings as well. Shan Re, the veteran artist has been consistently creating wonderful oil on canvas, while her daughter specialises in her trademark sculptures which draw inspiration from minimalism. Noted actress Samyukta Hornad’s artworks are full of life, Shraddha Rathi has been exploring the abstract forms. Back after a small hiatus, is artist Sujata Sah Sejekan showcased work depicting Buddhist ideologies and a graphic, print making as well from her repertoire. Speaking about her artworks she said, “I am a woman with a body from Nepal, soul from Mother Nature, heart for love, humanity, creation and mind with the Universe.
The distance between my mother country Nepal and my karma country India, has taught me to be more humble, kind and Loving as a human and taught me to enjoy patience, to believe what happens on my canvas is not only colours, strokes, lines, textures or beautiful compositions but also a thought process played by the divine Supreme Power in my unconscious mind.” This art show is part of a lead-up series for the second edition of Under the Women’s Cultural Festival, India’s first multi-arts festival by women and of women through February 2019.
The festival is on till March 4 at Project Eve, Jayanagar.
— The writer is an art expert and curator.
