The helplessness exuding from the berserk woman in a red-black silhouette touches your soul in an impalpable anguish. Enunciating the sheer strength of woman that commences in the hair to the far end of her roots, this painting of Sajitha Shankar emits a selfness arising from pure despair.
Stripping the chrysalis of a woman’s body, Sajitha cries out to the world “I will not be anybody’s puppet”. ‘Alterbodies’ the new series of works by Sajitha exhibited at Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum, delves deep into women’s intuitions, intellectuality, sensitiveness and her delicate self-sense in sixteen vibrant canvases.
With an impressive repertoire that boasts of 28 years of art career this woman of substance has conducted myriad exhibitions worldwide. In a self-searching journey that started at a tender age of fourteen, Sajitha has been painting her world in vivid hues of red and black. Why red and black one might ask and she says it is capricious, not intended.
“My paintings do have a strong influence of Theyyam and ritual arts. It could be the influence of strong women figurines such as Kali or other vibrant goddesses which is reflecting in my works,” says Sajitha.
Most of Sajitha’s six-foot-long works have her own body as the protagonist. In her self-emulating journey she has outlined herself in canvases while portraying countless women emotions.
From the autobiographical works thriving in femininity to the world of archetypes that featured strong women like Akka Mahadevi, this artist likes to indulge in feminism.
“Feminism in India is very special. Indian woman is quite different from women around the world. I have explored Upanishads and epics to understand spirituality, philosophy and India in a much better way and it has helped me immensely,” says Sajitha.
Sajitha is in awe of people who understand her painting at a glance. Eve Ensler, author ‘Vaginal Monologues’, is one such person she likes to mention. Eve who owns two of Sajitha’s paintings, has admired her work immensely and have easily became Sajitha’s friend. In her list of such awesome people she has added a new entry Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.
“It was amazing to see how he had interpreted my work with such ease. I haven’t met many who have such caliber,” Sajitha recollects.
Human body is delicate hence transparent or so says Sajitha’s ‘Hands’ series. Her own hand drawn in various lights look out from the ten or so mini canvases. Likewise, the heart shaped faces saying ‘now’, indifference and various other human emotions do visit often in her works. The heart is present in almost all the canvases, as a face or lying on the lap.
“Our face is heart shaped and I wanted to explore the possibilities of that shape,” says Sajitha.
The exhibition will conclude on June 20.