Tejal Shah – A Radical Queer

Despite the often Western exoticizing perspective on India as the country fulfilled with ancient traditions and spirituality, it is a society deeply divided by class (casts) and even gender. The situation is complex, due to various ethnic and religious differences and the fact that the majority of the population in this humongous country is swept by poverty, especially in rural areas. Regardless of the technological and economic progress, it is the tradition which molds the society and disables woman to be completely liberated. In general, the law does not, in any case, makes segregation, but the high rate of domestic violence proves that India is struggling with the patriarchal mechanism quite much.

Nevertheless, art has always been an open filed for women artists and an important tool for social and political articulation from the gender perspective, so they have expressed many forms of repression and discrimination by using various media and by incorporating both traditional and contemporary motifs. A large number of them have been active even in the pre-independence era, but the visibility of women-made art production grew; which can perhaps be contributed to the prominence of Indira Gandhi, the first Indian female prime minister. Unfortunately, during the course of time, the position of Indian women has not changed, which is related to the fact that India is considered to be a country in transition.

The Female Indian artists are still dealing with aforementioned subjects, but in accordance with contemporary globalization, nationalism and religious fundamentalism. The project Facing India, which is going to be presented at The Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg  from 29 April until 07 October 2018, is based on the critical reflection of those processes and is thought as a collective dialog between six participants. Therefore, the exhibition space is divided into six segments with an open forum in the center so that the audience can sense the communicative potential of the works and an exhibition as a whole.

As a matter of fact, this showcase should be perceived as a survey on contemporary Indian women art practices with a premise of a social and political engagement. Although of different sensibilities expressed through different media and various topics, the artists Prajakta Potnis, Vibha Galhotra, Mithu Sen, Reena Saini Kallat, Bharti Kher and Tejal Shah share a unique approach to the female experience in the light of empathy and solidarity, and bellow you can read a brief summary of the practices of each artist.

Featured images: Reena Saini Kallat – Crease/Crecvice/Contour (detail), 2008. Pigment print on Hahnemuhle Museum etching archival paper, set of 10 prints each 101 x 127 cm. Courtesy of the artist, photo: Iris Dreams; Bharti Kher – Portrait Manju, 2013. Saris, resin, cement, 152 x 63 x 56 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg.