When Geetanjali Kashyap made her monochromatic painting showing a man surrounded by waves, she never thought that her charcoal work would be a part of an all women's exhibition which will pay an ode to modern women. But after she registered for an exhibition titled, Stree, hosted by Shoobh Group Welfare Society, she was elated. Though the piece of art shows a man, it reflects the inner strength, peace and clarity of thought he eventually attains.
Kashyap says that her work symbolises a woman in a better way. "I made it for some other show. This work explains a man in a complex state of mind and despite feeling lost, he finds direction because of his inner strength. Women who are often caught up in different situations, too, make out of such complications easily because of these qualities. That is why I am showcasing it here at Stree," she says.
Stree was a one-day art exhibition organised in New Delhi as a token of appreciation of the contributions by 21st century women towards society. Women artists got a chance to describe the theme in their own way ahead to International Women's Day by presenting their artworks. A total of 19 artists participated in the show and all of them symbolised women using different elements such as birds, flowers, animals as well as the devil. The works revolved around themes like empowerment, boldness, versatility, patience, motivation, positivity, beauty, direction, unity as well as emotions such as anger and love.
Symbolising strength, artist Shuchi Khanna's uses a bull as an interpretation of a woman. "Women are seen as meek till they try to exert their rights or be bold. Once they become informed and start questioning their surroundings, they are not taken well. So keeping the theme of energy, synergy and power, I wanted to show that these qualities can be with both genders and women should not be looked down upon if she becomes powerful. I showed them as bull because bull represents strength and boldness," she says.
While architect Rubkirat Vohra showcased inner strength by using wood and metal as a medium, Neerja Divate replicated women as mushrooms. "I feel women are very sensitive and delicate but they are equally strong just like a mushroom that has similar qualities. But when it opens there is a sound that cracks it and that is what depicts it's strength. Women are equally strong," says Divate.
The show also includes works of other artists such as Aarti Zaveri, Ritu Mehra, Supriya Sathe, Sunayna Malhotra, Sangeeta Gupta, Nupur Kundu, Dr Amrit Kapoor, Sheela Chamaria, Shruti Chandra Gupta, Sangeeta Gupta, Bipasha Sen Gupta, Ranjeeta Kant, Nin Taneja and Vimmi Indra.