For women, by a woman: A new art exhibition in Mumbai celebrates female characters as the central figure

The artwork titled `Your Highness` by Satosh Jain. Photo courtesy: Santosh Jain/Method Art Space

Leonardo da Vinci once said, "The artist sees what others only catch a glimpse of." This may hold true for Delhi-based artist Santosh Jain's new exhibition - She's in the streets, she's in the stars - which opens on July 1 at Mumbai's art gallery Method in Kala Ghoda. Her mixed media artworks will bring women and their experiences, otherwise obscured, into the front and centre of our attention.

"Historically speaking, women have rarely been the central character of any story. Rather, they have been pushed into the background, their roles, desires, and existence nothing more than of service to others," observes Jain. "I mainly work with the themes ‘sympathy' and ‘empathy - especially in the context of women. Of course women are strong, but they are also suffering in different ways in certain situations. This collection also in some way reflects certain personal feelings and my journey as an artist," As the exhibition note mentions, the women in this series are from different backgrounds who take the lead in society as well as in life.

One of the works, for instance, features a sari-clad woman posing atop a rickety staircase, with the sunglasses emoji placed on her eyes. The painting of a man doffing his hat, who seems to be from the Victorian era, is superimposed on it too. Titled ‘Your Highness', it seems to bear the message that the woman in the picture is a queen in her own right and deserves to be treated with respect. In almost all her creations - both in the current exhibition and past shows - women have been a central character.

Her 34 new pieces involve a juxtaposition of original photographs with effects created using virtual software and other art tools. The 72-year-old artist's inherent determination may have been one of the driving forces that helped her take up photography in her 60s, after retirement. In 2012, when her daughter gifted her a DSLR camera, Jain joined a photography group and started going out with them every morning to click pictures. It helped her transition from printmaking into digital art. "Through trial and error I learnt photography. I even learnt photoshop on my own by reading and researching online. The curiosity and the desire to explore pushes me to take up new challenges," she says.

Jain's art career began in 1971 in Delhi's College Of Art. She studied printmaking and her prints were included in artist associations such as Group 8, Shilpi Chakra, Lalit Kala Akademi and Bombay Art Society, among others. "My college experience was extremely good. I enjoyed each and every moment, and tried to learn as much as I could," says the artist. She was even awarded a fellowship in printmaking by the Government of India that took her to Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam for two years.

Eventually, she focused her attention on art education. Whereas Jain hadn't been encouraged to pursue art herself - most of her family was from a science background - as an educator she was determined to nurture young talent. From her stint as the head of department for Arts at Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, she recalls the example of one student, who was close to her since the sixth standard and was determined to study art. But the student's parents weren't sure. "Both the parents were doctors and they told me that nobody in their family had ever studied art. I remember telling them that the talent they aren't able to see in their daughter, I have identified it." When the student got admission in National Institute of Design (NID), her parents were proud and thanked Jain.

Santosh Jain (left) and Sahil Arora

Jain is excited for the new exhibition to open and, after a long time, for people to come and see her works in-person. "My fingers are crossed," says the artist. Not just Jain, Sahil Arora, founder and curator of Method, is equally excited to re-open the Kala Ghoda gallery, which has undergone an expansion as well - they have acquired the ground floor area. "It feels great. We strongly believe that viewing art in person is a more immersive experience than on a small screen. We're excited to meet other art enthusiasts which has always been a very satisfying part of what we do with Method," he says.

Arora says given the uncertain times, every day has been a new learning during the pandemic. He says, "There's no comfort zone, you have to be prepared for uncertainty and adapt or evolve to fast paced dynamism." As far as safety protocols go, 40 per cent of his staff is fully vaccinated and 60 per cent has got one vaccine shot. They have been regularly sanitising both their Kala Ghoda and Bandra spaces, and everyone is wearing masks all the time. Arora is optimistic with a sense of caution. "We do our best to keep the space safe for everyone but we're not going to try to convince anyone to come if they have apprehensions," reasons the gallerist. "A large number of people share their living spaces with senior citizens or people with other health risks who might not even be vaccinated. To them, as much as I'd love for them to visit, I'd still tell them to stay home and keep themselves and those around them safe."

For the artist, the challenges of the last one year also brought inspiration. When her art supplies were over, she started creating art with whatever was available - inks, coffee, colour pens, charcoal on paper bills, boxboard, handmade paper. These art works, titled ‘The Lockdown Series', were on display in Tao Art Gallery's group exhibition - Gaze, Reflect & Gather - in March this year. "During the first lockdown, initially, the entire situation was very confusing. So, I made art with whatever I found. But just when we thought things were getting better, the devastating second wave [of coronavirus pandemic] hit us," says Jain.

There was a visible difference in the art she made during the second lockdown. She made a series of art and named it ‘The Languish series' (available on her website). The works - mixed media, oil pastels etc - are darker and gloomier. However, not everything has been glum since. Photography has lifted Jain's spirits. "I realised my house, where I have stayed for almost 25 years, gets so much natural light. A fact I knew but maybe didn't give so much importance to. So, I took my camera and started clicking photos early in the morning - from cosy corners to outside scenery."

‘She's In The Streets, She's In The Stars' will be on view until July 25. Gallery visiting time will depend on government mandate. Call 9821114562.

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